Hawkstone Park is an hotel set in parkland near to Market Drayton, in Shropshire, Britain , UK, one mile east of the A49 road. Today the park is composed of 100 acres ( forty hectares ) of follies and landscaped parkland grounds and rocky outcrops, based round the authentic Norman castle of Red Castle.The Hawkstone house was developed by Richard Hill of Hawkstone ( 1655-1727 ), sometimes called 'The Great Hill ', circa 1707, while the follies, estate and reputation were generally established by his nephew and successor Sir Rowland Hill, first Baronet Hill of Hawkstone ( 1705-1783 ) and Sir Richard Hill, second Baronet ( 1733-1808 ) in the eighteenth century. The park then fell prey to a century of neglect and rot till a continuing program of restoration was started in 1990, enabling it to be re-opened in 1993.
It's now prepared as Grade-1 mentioned on the nation's Register of Historical Parks and Gardens. It requires a 2.5 hour hiking tour to utterly see each folly and their landscapes ( a reasonable level of physical fitness and mobility is necessary and there are lots of steps, ascents and descents ). At some times of, not all site trails are accessible.
Attractions include to red brick tower, once lime washed and still called the White Tower, the Monument standing over 100ft high remembering Sir Rowland Hill who was the 1st Protestant Mayor of London, the Split which is spanned by the Swiss Bridge, the Cave that may have originated as a fifth century copper mine and the Arch on top of of Cave Hill, and numerous caves, tunnels thru the rock, walkways, perspectives and trails winding thru Rhododendron plantations.
The Park was employed to represent Narnia in the BBC's Television modification of C. S. Lewis's books. Hawkstone is presently mixed with a diagonally opposite hotel ( previously a lodge of the hall ) marketed in collaboration with the Principal Hayley Group, golfing course, and motocross track.Hawkstone Hall, close by, is a Catholic retreat ( religious ), open to the general public in Aug, thanks to English Heritage roof mend funds.Hawkstone Park has 2 18-hole golfing courses, set in and round the parkland. Sandy Lyle was tutored in golfing by his pa Alex, who was the resident golfing pro at Hawkstone.