The history of RHS Garden Bridgewater

Explore the history of this once-grand estate and now our latest RHS Garden in Salford, Greater Manchester
Worsley New Hall (Mullineux Photographic Collection)

A grand beginning

RHS Garden Bridgewater is located on the site of the estate of Worsley New Hall in Salford. The Hall was demolished in the 1940s, but in its heyday was a notable residence featuring extensive formal landscaped gardens.

Built for Francis Egerton, the 1st Earl of Ellesmere, between 1840 and 1845, this grand Gothic-style mansion was designed by the architect Edward Blore. His speciality was Tudor and Elizabethan-style architecture, and he had a good reputation for completing projects on time and to budget. This particular project cost just under £100,000 to build, the equivalent of around £6.7 million today.
Worsely New Hall parkland, lake and footbridge, 1875 (Salford Local History Society/Frank Mullineux Collection)

An English landscape garden

Just as grand as the house, the magnificent gardens were landscaped over a 50-year period. Landscape designer William Andrews Nesfield, one of the most sought-after members of his profession at the time, was involved in the project from 1846. In the ensuing years, the sloping grounds to the south of the Hall were transformed into a formal terraced garden, accessed by a series of steps and gravel paths, complete with formal fountains.

Immediately to the south of the terraces, an existing ornamental lake was enlarged in 1875 to contain a grotto on an island reached by a footbridge.

Like many fine gardens of its era, it had a croquet lawn and a tennis court. An area of woodland towards the west of the Hall separated the formal gardens from the gardener’s cottage (now Garden Cottage) and the 11-acre walled kitchen gardens. From these kitchen gardens, staff sent out ‘flowers and evergreens’ at Christmas and Easter to local churches, Sunday schools and workhouses.
Illustration of Queen Victoria’s visit to Worsley New Hall

Royal visitors

Queen Victoria visited the Hall in 1851 and 1857. For her first visit The Queen and her party travelled to the Hall via the Bridgewater Canal. In honour of the visit, the canal was dyed blue and the Earl of Ellesmere commissioned a Royal Barge and built a landing stage on the banks.

King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra visited in 1909 for a review of the East Lancashire Division of the Territorial Army stationed in the grounds of the Hall. Worsley New Hall became a British Red Cross hospital during the First World War.
Scouts with a jeep at Middlewood Scout Camp in Worsley, 1960

Later history

During the Second World War parts of the Hall were requisitioned by the War Office and its gardens used as training grounds by the Lancashire Fusiliers.

With the departure of the Egerton family from the Worsley Estate, the Hall and gardens declined. Gradually the Hall fell into disrepair. Weakened by dry rot and following a fire in 1943, this once-grand building was finally demolished by a scrap merchant, who bought it for just £2,500. By 1949, after a century of heritage, the Hall was consigned to Salford’s historic past and nature reclaimed the extensive gardens.In the intervening years, the grounds have included: a nursery, a garden centre, a scout camp, an indoor rifle range and a fishing lake.
Potting sheds before their redevelopment

The site before work started

In 2017, the RHS began work on an ambitious plan to create a world-class garden for the northwest of England. Landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith created a masterplan, sensitively working with the history of the site, and reimagining the landscape. Significant heritage features such as the enormous Bothy chimney, the picturesque Garden Cottage, the original ‘Potting Sheds’, working stables and historic lake have all been restored and re-purposed as part of the ongoing story of this historic site.
View over the borders and glasshouses in the Paradise Garden

The garden today and future plans

The garden opened on 18 May 2021, delayed almost a year by the Covid pandemic. The 154-acre garden is the biggest hands-on horticultural project undertaken in Europe since planning permission was granted in 2017. Around 7.8 million people living within an hour’s journey time of the garden are now able to access world-class horticultural inspiration and expertise, at the closest RHS Garden to a major conurbation.

Named after the Bridgewater Canal that runs to its side, the garden today is an incredible resource for garden enthusiasts and local communities. Its setting draws both city visitors and water wildlife to its unique location, and in its young life as an RHS garden it has already made a big impact. With future plans to develop new areas in the wider landscape, it is exciting for all to watch how this incredible site is growing and thriving.

Landmark dates in Bridgewater’s history
Queen Victoria, accompanied by the 1st Duke of Wellington, visited Worsley New Hall travelling to their destination by barge on the Bridgewater Canal. She returned to the estate in 1857.

1851

Queen Victoria, accompanied by the 1st Duke of Wellington, visited Worsley New Hall travelling to their destination by barge on the Bridgewater Canal. She returned to the estate in 1857.

When war broke out in 1914, the 4th Earl of Ellesmere loaned the Hall to the British Red Cross for use as a war hospital. The terrace was used by the military for recreation purposes. After the end of the war, with the house empty and the formal gardens overgrown, the estate’s demise began with the Earl choosing to auction the library and various items of furniture.

1914

When war broke out in 1914, the 4th Earl of Ellesmere loaned the Hall to the British Red Cross for use as a war hospital. The terrace was used by the military for recreation purposes. After the end of the war, with the house empty and the formal gardens overgrown, the estate’s demise began with the Earl choosing to auction the library and various items of furniture.

During the Second World War the house and grounds were requisitioned by the War Office. In September 1943 a fire broke out on the top floor. Further damage was caused by local mining activities, resulting in the Hall’s subsidence. In the same year a Scout troop established at the Gate House. Here members mass on the terraces.

1943

During the Second World War the house and grounds were requisitioned by the War Office. In September 1943 a fire broke out on the top floor. Further damage was caused by local mining activities, resulting in the Hall’s subsidence. In the same year a Scout troop established at the Gate House. Here members mass on the terraces.

In 1948 John Harris Richard Cunliffe, known locally as ‘Jack’, purchased Garden Cottage and the Walled Garden. From here he started the Worsley Hall Nurseries business, later known as Worsley Hall Garden Centre (pictured). The site was in operation until 2013.

1980s

In 1948 John Harris Richard Cunliffe, known locally as ‘Jack’, purchased Garden Cottage and the Walled Garden. From here he started the Worsley Hall Nurseries business, later known as Worsley Hall Garden Centre (pictured). The site was in operation until 2013.

In the 1750s Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, began construction of the Bridgewater Canal, which was destined to carry coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It opened in 1761.

1760s

In the 1750s Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, began construction of the Bridgewater Canal, which was destined to carry coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It opened in 1761.

Worsley New Hall, which once stood on the site of RHS Garden Bridgewater, was a grand country house built for Lord Francis Egerton and designed by architect Edward Blore at a cost approaching £100,000. In the year it was completed Lord Francis became the 1st Earl of Ellesmere. Pictured: pencil drawing by FJ Shields, 1849 (Welcome Library website)

1849

Worsley New Hall, which once stood on the site of RHS Garden Bridgewater, was a grand country house built for Lord Francis Egerton and designed by architect Edward Blore at a cost approaching £100,000. In the year it was completed Lord Francis became the 1st Earl of Ellesmere.

Pictured: pencil drawing by FJ Shields, 1849 (Welcome Library website)

Formal terraced gardens were designed by landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield to add to the grandeur of the estate. Included within the grounds were an ornamental boating lake, parkland, and an 11-acre walled kitchen garden complete with heated glasshouses for growing exotic produce.

1850s

Formal terraced gardens were designed by landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield to add to the grandeur of the estate. Included within the grounds were an ornamental boating lake, parkland, and an 11-acre walled kitchen garden complete with heated glasshouses for growing exotic produce.

Queen Victoria, accompanied by the 1st Duke of Wellington, visited Worsley New Hall travelling to their destination by barge on the Bridgewater Canal. She returned to the estate in 1857.

1851

Queen Victoria, accompanied by the 1st Duke of Wellington, visited Worsley New Hall travelling to their destination by barge on the Bridgewater Canal. She returned to the estate in 1857.

When war broke out in 1914, the 4th Earl of Ellesmere loaned the Hall to the British Red Cross for use as a war hospital. The terrace was used by the military for recreation purposes. After the end of the war, with the house empty and the formal gardens overgrown, the estate’s demise began with the Earl choosing to auction the library and various items of furniture.

1914

When war broke out in 1914, the 4th Earl of Ellesmere loaned the Hall to the British Red Cross for use as a war hospital. The terrace was used by the military for recreation purposes. After the end of the war, with the house empty and the formal gardens overgrown, the estate’s demise began with the Earl choosing to auction the library and various items of furniture.

During the Second World War the house and grounds were requisitioned by the War Office. In September 1943 a fire broke out on the top floor. Further damage was caused by local mining activities, resulting in the Hall’s subsidence. In the same year a Scout troop established at the Gate House. Here members mass on the terraces.

1943

During the Second World War the house and grounds were requisitioned by the War Office. In September 1943 a fire broke out on the top floor. Further damage was caused by local mining activities, resulting in the Hall’s subsidence. In the same year a Scout troop established at the Gate House. Here members mass on the terraces.

In 1948 John Harris Richard Cunliffe, known locally as ‘Jack’, purchased Garden Cottage and the Walled Garden. From here he started the Worsley Hall Nurseries business, later known as Worsley Hall Garden Centre (pictured). The site was in operation until 2013.

1980s

In 1948 John Harris Richard Cunliffe, known locally as ‘Jack’, purchased Garden Cottage and the Walled Garden. From here he started the Worsley Hall Nurseries business, later known as Worsley Hall Garden Centre (pictured). The site was in operation until 2013.

In the 1750s Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, began construction of the Bridgewater Canal, which was destined to carry coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It opened in 1761.

1760s

In the 1750s Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, began construction of the Bridgewater Canal, which was destined to carry coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It opened in 1761.

Worsley New Hall, which once stood on the site of RHS Garden Bridgewater, was a grand country house built for Lord Francis Egerton and designed by architect Edward Blore at a cost approaching £100,000. In the year it was completed Lord Francis became the 1st Earl of Ellesmere. Pictured: pencil drawing by FJ Shields, 1849 (Welcome Library website)

1849

Worsley New Hall, which once stood on the site of RHS Garden Bridgewater, was a grand country house built for Lord Francis Egerton and designed by architect Edward Blore at a cost approaching £100,000. In the year it was completed Lord Francis became the 1st Earl of Ellesmere.

Pictured: pencil drawing by FJ Shields, 1849 (Welcome Library website)

Formal terraced gardens were designed by landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield to add to the grandeur of the estate. Included within the grounds were an ornamental boating lake, parkland, and an 11-acre walled kitchen garden complete with heated glasshouses for growing exotic produce.

1850s

Formal terraced gardens were designed by landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield to add to the grandeur of the estate. Included within the grounds were an ornamental boating lake, parkland, and an 11-acre walled kitchen garden complete with heated glasshouses for growing exotic produce.

Queen Victoria, accompanied by the 1st Duke of Wellington, visited Worsley New Hall travelling to their destination by barge on the Bridgewater Canal. She returned to the estate in 1857.

1851

Queen Victoria, accompanied by the 1st Duke of Wellington, visited Worsley New Hall travelling to their destination by barge on the Bridgewater Canal. She returned to the estate in 1857.

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