History of Orford Park
Until 1935 a hall had stood in the park grounds since the 13th Century. The first hall was a timber and plaster building with ornate chimneys and a thatched roof. It was built for the Le Norris family in 1232. The Norris family remained in the hall until 1595 after which it was purchased by Thomas Tildesley who rebuilt it in Jacobean style. In 1639, owing to debts incurred during the rebuilding works, Richard Tildesley was forced to sell it to Thomas Blackburne. By 1716 the hall had been greatly enhanced and it was during this period that it became renown for its outstanding collection of rare plants, trees and unusual animals. The ‘Hothouse’ in the grounds was the first in the country to grow pineapples, coffee, tea and sugarcane. The hall grounds also boasted an orangery where citrus fruits were grown. In 1833 William Beaumont, the first Mayor of Warrington, leased the hall. After his death his wife continued to live there until she died. For a short period of time after her death the hall was used by the Warrington Training College but then fell empty. In 1916 the hall and 18 acres of grounds were purchased for the sum of £3,600 from Colonel Robert Ireland Blackburne as a gift and memorial for the town of Warrington – for "…the lads of Warrington who had fought and died in the Great War". The grounds were opened as a public park on August 4th 1917. By 1935 the hall itself was in a state of disrepair and the costs of restoration were thought to be too high and it was sadly demolished.
On the left is a view of Orford Hall pre 1935, whilst the view on the right reflects the modern view. Orford Memories A pictorial history of the site and local area has been compiled by the former Orford Memories Group. This contains a collection of photographs throughout the 20th century showing scenic views of the park and people enjoying themselves in the open air. Such as this picture of a little girl taken on the front lawns of Orford Park in the late 1930's.
Photo kindly supplied by Mrs Edna Brereton. |
A family portrait of the Hughes family taken in Orford Park in 1919. 
A picture taken on Orford Park Bowling Green in 1964 of Mr William "Bill" Littlewood (right foreground) and friends. 
