Tatton Park was owned by the Egerton family for 450 years.
In the 18th century William Egerton unexpectedly inherited a great fortune. With this new wealth he extensively rebuilt the old house. The new mansion, started by one architect and completed by another, was constructed between 1790 and 1810.
William Egerton engaged Samuel Wyatt, the acclaimed architect, to design and build his house. Wyatt was responsible for the western half of the house but he and his patron died before the whole building was completed.
William Egerton's son, Wilbraham, commissioned Wyatt's nephew, Lewis Wyatt, to finish the eastern half. The completed house is a stone-built, neo-classical building. It has a low-pitched roof and hardly any decoration except for the swags in panels above the sash windows.
A huge pedimented portico dominates the south front. The principal rooms of the house are of a size and proportion to match the imposing exterior.
The library, which fills the centre of the garden front, is a prominent room. Most of the books were collected in the 18th century or earlier. The nucleus of the collection is the 16th century library acquired by the founder of the family's fortune, Thomas Egerton, who rose to be Lord Chancellor during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.
The grand drawing room, designed by Lewis Wyatt, has a coffered ceiling and is hung with cherry coloured silk. The pictures adorning the walls include a painting by Van Dyck and two works by Caneletto commissioned from the artist by Samuel Egerton in around 1729 while he was living in Venice.
On the first floor the all the Regency bedrooms except one have dressing rooms and were originally distinguished by the colour of the textiles used and the wood of the furniture. Only the dining room with its green walls and splendid rococo plasterwork remains from the 18th century house.
The 4th and last Lord Egerton was an adventurous man. The Tenant's Hall is hung with curiosities and big game hunting trophies he acquired in Africa and India. He had an inquiring mind and experimented with short-wave radio and had his own areoplane.His 1900 Benz had the number plate M.I. and was the first motor-car to be registered in Cheshire.
When the 4th Lord died in 1958 he left the house and gardens to the National Trust. Tatton Park is now maintained and managed by Cheshire County Council on lease from the Trust.
The house has a beautifully site overlooking the Italianate terraced garden to the park and lakes. The 54 acres of garden were largely planned by Humphry Repton in 1791.
During the 19th century additions were made to the garden including the formal terraces by Sir Joseph Paxton and the Japanese Garden by the 3rd Lord Egerton.
The classical orangery was designed by Lewis Wyatt in 1810 but the Victorian fernery with massive New Zealand tree species may also have been the work of Paxton.
The 4th Lord undertook the extensive planting of zaleas, rare shrubs and trees. Behind a bank of rhododendrons on the the long avenue known as the Broad Walk is an unusual beech maze.
The 2,000 acres of park and lakes were also designed by Repton. Flocks of Soay and Hebridean sheep graze with the red and fallow deer beneath the trees and around the meres. The 15th century Old Hall, once the home of the lord of the manor, is found isolated in the park.
2008:15 Mar-28 Sept: Park Mon-Sun 10-19:00 (last entry 18:00) Farm: Tue-Sun 12-17:00(last entry 16:00) Gardens: Tue-Sun + Mon in August 10-18:00 (last entry 17:00) Mansion: Tue-Sun 13-17:00(last entry 16:00) Guided tours at 12:00 - extra charge
Tel: 01625 374435 - Infoline Tatton Park Website
