Record Details

Summary

An extensive landscape park laid out in the mid 18th century around Himley Hall. The park was possibly designed by Nathaniel Richmond with later work by Capability Brown. The park is included on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

Monument Type(s):

• LANDSCAPE PARK (Established, Georgian - 1740 AD to 1740 AD)

Associated Events:

• EST842 - An archaeological watching brief at Himley Hall, Himley, January to February 2003. (NRHE Name - Himley Hall) (Ref: PN. 1033)
• EST1778 - An archaeological watching brief at Himley Hall, Himley, June to July 2007. (NRHE Name - Land at Himley Hall) (Ref: PN 1633 / Report No. 1633)

Protected Status:

• Registered Park or Garden (II) 1001270: Himley Hall

Full description

Landscape Park: A landscape park surrounding Himley Hall (PRN 09209). <1> <2>

The park is included on English Heritage's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. (The boundary of the registered area and the boundary of the park on the HER may differ). <3>

An archaeological watching brief conducted in 2003, during ground works for the replacement of a sewage pumping station and other works, comprising of 8 trenches positioned to the east and south of Himley Hall (PRN 09209). Possible evidence of the former medieval manor (PRN 01149) found to the east of the Hall, and features contemporary with the first phase of building of the Hall in the 18th century, together with 19th century drains and culverts, found to the east and south. Evidence of hard landscaping for the layout of the surrounding parkland was also seen.
Himley Hall is believed to occupy the site of a former medieval moated manor site. The manor house, and the Barony of Birmingham, was inherited in 1740 by John Ward of Sedgley. He demolished the house and backfilled the moat, constructing a new palladio style residence on the site. Ward was also responsible for moving the village of Himley (PRN 02484), which was originally located immediately to the west of the house. The village was moved much further west to be located outside the park, and the houses and church were levelled. The parkland may originally have been landscaped by Nathaniel Richmond, with later developments made by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. (JM, 28/4/03) <4>

'Capability' Brown was invited to the estate to redesign the grounds around the Hall. His plan for Himley included the creation of a great pool, a new carriage approach to the house, the creation of woodland walk areas and the planting of scattered clumps of trees throughout the estate. (JM, 28/4/03) <5>

An archaeological watching brief on groundwork in the courtyard to the north of the hall revealed the remains of a brick vault. The vault was aligned north-south measuring 3m by 1.15m with a segmental arched vault, and was found to be closed at both ends. Insufficient brickwork was exposed to allow for a bond to be positively identified however within the western side wall of the chamber the arched heads of two side chambers were visible (though limited access did not allow for the depth of these chambers to be established). The main vault was filled to the level of the springing of the vault with orange-red slightly silty sand and brick rubble; probing failed to identify a definite bottom to the vault, though some resistance was encountered at a depth of 1.8m below current ground surface. Further excavation in the parkland area of the hall revealed a post-medieval culvert aligned east-west. (LH, 07-Sept-2007) <6>

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