THE long-abandoned riding school building at Warrington’s Walton Hall and Gardens is to be brought back to life by the borough council.
Unknown to many people, the building is tucked away behind the heritage court yard at Walton Hall, beside the canal.
It was built in the latter part of the 19th century and is shown completed on the 1899 Ordnance Survey map.
The riding school was built as part of a massive investment by the first Lord Daresbury. It consisted of stables and equestrian training facilities and was used to train and exercise Lord Daresbury’s extensive stable of hunting and riding horses.
Even in the heyday of equestrianism, an indoor riding arena was seen as an extreme luxury, that only those most committed to the sport could afford.
After the sale of the Walton Estate to the council in 1938, the building was used during the Second World War to house ancillary fire engines, while troops were billeted in the stables.
After the war, it was used for storage until the past few years.
Trees along the canal have grown and damaged the roof, making the building unsafe.
The plan is to return the building to full use as a multi-purpose events space allowing the public to use and enjoy it for the first time.
Cllr Peter Carey, chairman of the Walton Liaison Group, said: “We have been wanting to restore the old riding school building and open it up for public use for a long time. It is a wonderful structure that will add a much-needed, covered space to the Walton Estate, enabling us to hold
events there, whatever the weather.
“Few people even knew the building existed, so it will be absolutely fantastic to get it up and running and open to our many visitors for the first time in more than 100 years.”
Cllr Tony Higgins, the council’s lead member for culture, leisure and community, said: “Warrington is more than just a great place to do business – it’s also a great place to live. We are working very hard to try to boost the borough’s cultural and leisure offering which is
perfectly demonstrated by our bid to be City of Culture 2021.”
The aim is to get the building restored over the summer and autumn this year, subject to planning and executive board approval.
Inside the crumbling riding school building
Historic riding school building to be given new life
44 Comments
4 Comments
The restoration of another of our few remaining heritage laden buildings would have been much easier and less costly had even a limited amount of maintenance had been carried out over the years, instead of letting the ravages of nature virtually destroy it. Now we’re told “few people knew it existed” (shades of the transporter bridge) which tells a lot about our councils’ (past and present) commitment to heritage, before the CoC fever gripped the present incumbents. Linking the restoration to the CoC bid does not disguise the abject neglect this valuable (from a heritage standpoint) public asset has suffered.
Sadly very true Positron and something that seems to happen far to often with regards to Warrington’s heritage. Good that it is actually now being restored rather than the usual knocking down due to past failings and lack of maintenance though 😀
Maybe there is still some hope for the old Packet House building at the bottom of Bridge Street too which has a fascinating history and goes back centuries…well ok I doubt that the owners or the council really care about that one though to be honest or it wouldn’t be in the state is is today 🙁
The council should be leading the way on preservation of our heritage, not running to catch up on public concern all the time; as has been the case with successive administrations.
well they have to do something to justify applying for the city of culture award