Weston Park, Shropshire (Shropshire)

Summary 17th century buildings No smoking Art and sculpture Guided tours Gift shop Learning facilities Children's play area Woodland walks Free car parking (on site)

Food and Drinks Restaurant Tea Room Bar

Introduction

Weston Park, set in the Shropshire countryside is a 17th Century House built in 1,000 acres of parkland. Formerly the ancestral home of the Earls of Bradford. Weston Park houses a superb collection of paintings that includes works by Van Dyck, Constable and Stubbs. Also on display are sculptures and Chinese porcelain along with fine furniture and objets d´art.

In addition to the parkland, there are formal gardens and woodland walks to enjoy. The visitor centre provides a wide variety of information including; an auditorium showcasing a DVD presentation on the history of Weston Park.

History to the present day

The land on which Weston stands was first mentioned in the Domesday Book. The land was then held by the de Westons of Weston from whom it passed by inheritance to a branch of the Mytton family. Their heiress, Elizabeth Mytton married Sir Thomas Wilbraham and, through the Wilbraham's daughter Mary carried the property to the Earls of Bradford through her marriage to Richard Newport, 2nd Earl of Bradford of the first creation. 

The house was built in 1671 for Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham. Although it is often claimed that she was her own architect, there is no conclusive documentary evidence for this and it is most likely that the executant architect was William Taylor, who is known to have been at Weston Park in 1674. The three storey twelve bayed south front of the House was originally the entrance front but alterations and improvements carried out in the latter 19th century for the 3rd Earl of Bradford of the second creation involved the movement of the main entrance to the east front. 

In the eighteenth century, with the failure of the male line of the Newport Earls of Bradford, Weston was inherited by Sir Henry Bridgeman, 5th Bt., whose mother Lady Anne Bridgeman (née Newport) was a granddaughter of Lady Wilbraham. The Bridgemans were already substantial landowners in Shropshire and in Warwickshire but chose to make Weston their main seat. Sir Henry Bridgeman commissioned Capability Brown to landscape the park. He also employed James Paine to make alteration to the House and, in the park, to add a Roman Bridge and Temple of Diana—later described by the renowned architect as "my greenhouse at Weston".

Food and Drinks

The Granary Grill, Bar and Restaurant is situated in the old Malting House of the Granary Building. A split-level seating area provides diners with views over the Church Pool and the estate cottages. The menu features freshly prepared dishes using the region's finest produce. Lunches from 12.00pm-3.00pm, Dinner 6.30pm-10.00pm, Sunday Lunch 12.00pm-4pm. (closed Sunday evenings).

Grounds and gardens

The grounds of Weston Park combine 1,000 acres of parkland with three centuries of garden design. From the formal lines and long avenues of the 17th century gardens to the unique style added by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 18th century.

Surrounding the House are the Formal Gardens, that retain the style and feel of the 1930’s, and the Broderie Italian Garden, which is sunken to allow unspoiled views from the Victorian Orangery.

Beyond the Formal Gardens, explore Shrewsbury Walk leading to Teardrop Garden, Rose Walk, the Victorian Conservatory and St Andrew’s Church.  Walk through ‘Capability’ Brown’s Pleasure Grounds to the Medieval Deer Park and Temple Wood, to discover the 1770 James Paine bridge, Temple of Diana and Temple Pool.

Other facilities

Weston Park has it's own miniature railway, woodland adventure playground and giant games for children to enjoy. Weston Park offer free indoor and outdoor Discovery Workshops for children from August with spaces for 25 children per day.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: , Shropshire, , United Kingdom

Address: Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8LE

Directions: Weston Park is situated on the A5 at Weston-under-Lizard, just 30 minutes from central Birmingham, three miles off the M54 junction 3 and eight miles off the M6 junction 12. You can also reach Weston via the new M6 Toll Road, junction 11A.

Opening Hours: House and Gardens Open from May - September. Park & Gardens: 11.00am-6.30pm. House: 1.00pm-5.00pm.

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