The story so far

1545   John Gerard, the most celebrated herbalist and author of the “Historie of Plants” was born in Nantwich and attended Willaston School.  He learned about plants in the fields and bye ways of Nantwich.

1577  Gerard moved to London and superintended the gardens belonging to Lord Burleigh in the Strand.

1580   Richard Wilbraham built his family home, Townsend House, on the site in Welsh Row.  He had four sons who all rose to positions of wealth and honour, and he died when aged 85.

1596   John Gerard published a list of plants he had grown in his own garden.  This was the first catalogue of any garden ever published.

1597   John Gerard published his celebrated “Herball, A Historie of Plants.” He was Herbalist to the King and notable people.

1617   James I of England visited Townsend House and gardens.  He visited the church and walked to the Brine works.  He stabled his horses on Kingsley fields.

1622  Thomas Wilbraham, much travelled and well educated son of Richard, kept precise records of all that was purchased for the house and gardens. He would almost certainly have consulted the “ Herball “ when buying his plants.  These archives are available today and have been researched by David and Doreen Mason of Nantwich. 

1644    During the siege of Nantwich, Thomas’s son, Roger, was residing at Townsend House when it was attacked by Royalists and it suffered some damage to outbuildings causing a fire.  Thomas, a Royalist, refused to give money to the Parliamentarians but took no part in the Battle and was a prisoner in his own house.

1819   The house was sold and became a brewery.

1831   The house was converted into a clothing factory and was a major employer in the Town.

1906    The house was the Nantwich Co-operative Boot and Shoe Factory.

1964   The house was again a private house belonging to a local solicitor and on his death it was demolished and became a garage and petrol station.

1986   The Old Walled Garden was Listed Grade 2 by the Department of the Environment.

1996    First Kingsley Farm Planning Brief produced stating that the old walls should be restored and repaired before building commenced on Kingsley Fields.

2000   The beautiful old gateway to the garden was accidentally knocked down after standing for over 400 years.

2001 (February)    Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council Planning Brief for building on Kingsley Fields produced “conditional on the restoration of the Listed Walls of Townsend House.”  The Old Walled Garden shown as “white” land with no building within it.

2001 (September)    Notice of permission to build on Kingsley Fields.  Condition 11 – “The reserved matters application which relates to the part of the site containing the walled garden at the rear of Townsend House shall include a programme for its restoration, and a design statement to justify the means by which the area it encloses will be developed. Reason: To ensure that the walled garden which is a listed building is preserved and incorporated within the development adequately.”

2002 (April)   A Committee formed of local people with its aims to save the Old Walled Garden for Nantwich

2003    Applications by Bellway Homes to build within the Walled Garden.

2004 (June)    Nantwich Walled Garden Society formed with the following aims and with a view to obtaining charitable status and raising money:

·                                To prevent the development of housing on the site of the Old Walled Garden.

·                                To ensure that the Elizabethan walls are fully restored and re-instated.

·                                To restore the garden in a way that reflects its history, so that it can be maintained in perpetuity for the enjoyment of residents and visitors to Nantwich.

2004 (July)   Development Control Committee of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council refused the application by Bellway Homes to build flats within the Walled Garden.  (Planning Applications P03/1515 and P0/1524). Reasons: 1. “Detrimental to the character, setting and special historic interest of the listed walled garden in conflict with policies BE10 and BE11 of the Adopted Local Plan.   2. The application fails to demonstrate why additional development is required at Kingsley Village to secure compliance with condition 11 of planning permission P00/0757 and consequently the restoration and repair of the walled garden.

2007 (Between May and October)   The Nantwich Walled Garden asked the owners of the garden on three occasions to donate the walled garden to Nantwich.  There was no reply to any of the requests.

2007 (November 24)   The Society wrote to every Borough and Town Councillor drawing attention to the state of the walls and the fact that nothing was being done about the repair of the North wall. They were also reminded that they were responsible for ensuring that the Planning Inspector’s recommendations were implemented.  The Society also asked that an Urgent Works notice be issued as soon as possible.

2008 (April 22) A new set of plans for building within the walled garden were shown at a meeting on April 22. These propose six terraced houses and two apartments - all two storeys high - which will take up a major part of the garden and will be surrounded by a Tudor communal garden.

2008 (August and September) The Crewe and Nantwich M.P. (Edward Timpson), local councillors and the public express support for our efforts.

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