Winslow Hall
Location/Address
None recorded
Type
Description
Late seventeenth century formal gardens and parkland at Winslow Hall, extensively remodelled in 1970s.
An outstanding country house for the Lowndes family of landowners and politicians, linked with Sir Christopher Wren. The associated formal gardens and park were developed c.1695-1700 with advice from prolific royal gardeners London and Wise, and some subsequent remodelling of the gardens. The framework of the early designed landscape survives largely intact, especially the park to the south of the house, parts of the kitchen garden advised upon by London and Wise, garden walls and remnants of avenues to the east and north-east, now detached. The property is associated with several influential C19 and C20 figures and has important WW2 associations. This is the essential contemporary setting for the house and is valuable as a rare survival in its own right, although the detail of the early layout has gone and its design is unclear.
Detailed description in Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust report.
Statement of Significance
Asset type
Late seventeenth century formal gardens and parkland at Winslow Hall, extensively remodelled in 1970s.Architectural and Artistic Interest
Architectural interest: A grand country house ensemble c.1700 including a mansion, pavilions, gateway, garden walls and former stables that survives intact with little alteration. The mansion has connections with Sir Christopher Wren. The gardens associated with London and Wise include brick garden walls and a possibly contemporary walled kitchen garden surviving in part. Artistic interest: A late C17 country house, park and gardens associated with Sir Christopher Wren and royal gardeners London and Wise, sited to make the most of the location on the southern boundary of Winslow overlooking a rolling landscape facing distant Granborough village and church (an important ecclesiastical site). The framework of the formal gardens c.1700 survives. Much of the brick boundary walls, gateways and shelter belt remain as well as tree planting from the C18 and C19 and a significant portion of the detached park. Elsewhere in Bucks London worked at Chicheley in 1700-01 and c.1704-14 at Wotton Underwood, both with notable water features. Comparable notable gardens of the period include the Marquess of Wharton’s at Upper Winchendon, of which terracing and an avenue line survive within Waddesdon Manor park. Browne Willis built a new house at Water Hall, Bletchley 1707-11 with similar (but linked) pavilions, formal garden and avenues (gone, site within Bletchley Park).Group Value
The park and gardens at Winslow Hall have group value with the other Lowndes family property at The Bury in Chesham, as well as a local cluster of parks in the vicinity of Winslow, which includes Addington, Horwood House, Claydon House, Oving House, Swanbourne House, and Swanbourne Old House. Late seventeenth century parks and gardens in Buckinghamshire include surviving remains at Bradenham Manor, Chequers, Denham Court, Fawley Court, Hitcham Park, Langley Park, and Liscombe Park.Historic Interest
Associations with important political figures and diplomats. William Lowndes, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Queen Anne, was responsible for building Winslow Hall and the gardens and parkland. It was an important RAF command centre during WWII.Archaeological Interest
Medieval ridge and furrow earthworks survive in the park. There is potential for buried remains relating to the development of Winslow as a town in the late Saxon and Medieval periods, as well as potential for lost built and garden features especially since c.1700, such as terraces, walls, paths, etc.Landmark Status
Winslow Hall with its entrance gates, formal gardens in the forecourt and associated service wing and stable block are prominent townscape features, along with the parkland on the south side of Sheep Street. The house is sited at the crest of a ridge and is highly visible in long distance views from surrounding villages to the south of Winslow. The 2016 designation of part of the garden as a public park and arboretum (planted with important tree specimens in the later C20) has provided Winslow with a valuable local amenity.Images and Documents
Date Listed
12 Jan 2023
Last Updated
12 Jan 2023