The Georgian ‘English Landscape’ of Bowring Park -
The Georgian ‘English Landscape’ of Bowring Park -
Bowring Park has its origins as the former Roby Hall Estate.
In 1761, the original deer park estate was purchased by John Williamson, Mayor of Liverpool.
Williamson embarked on an ambitious re-design, including a new Georgian-style hall and outbuildings, set into a carefully designed ‘English Landscape’; a concept made famous by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown who was at the forefront of fashion during this time.
The Entrance
The design took the visitor on a ‘journey’ into the estate, initially concealing views, only to present them in stages as they finally approached the hall itself.
From where you are now, you can begin to see key features that formed this historic landscape. The original entrance to the estate was actually located across the road, where Pilch Lane East now heads towards the railway underbridge.
The original entrance pillars still stand at this location.
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You can also see an imposing sandstone wall that was the original boundary of the estate.
Flanked by a dense woodland block that also still stands across the road, these features screened any views into the estate from passers-by.
Liverpool Lodge Gatehouse also stood at this western entrance and its foundations can still be seen in the undergrowth next to the pillars on Pilch Lane East.
The original western entrance to Bowring Park was the terminus for the 6A Tram until 1951.
The Liverpool Tram Network was closed soon after in 1957.
1973 saw the construction of the M62 through Bowring Park, splitting the site in two changing its historic ‘English Landscape’ forever.
Estate Boundary
Upon entering through the western gate, a crescent-shaped coach road then led you towards Roby Hall. The open parkland landscape you see before you is the first vista that visitors would have seen.
However, the trees were carefully laid out to still screen the view and to build the anticipation of finally seeing the hall upon arrival after passing through the treescape.
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