Hoghton Tower

Hoghton Tower (listed grade I) was constructed for Thomas de Hoghton c 1560-5, replacing an earlier building on or near the site. It is shown, on top of the hill, on Saxton’s county map of 1577. The Tower was damaged in 1643 by Parliamentarian forces and Sir Charles Hoghton Bt undertook a campaign of building during the period 1692-1702. Following the death of Sir Henry Hoghton Bt in 1768, the estate passed to his nephew, who rented out parts of the Tower to farmers. In 1862 Sir Henry Hoghton Bt began a campaign of restoration, using the Lancaster firm of architects Paley & Austin. The work was continued under Sir Henry’s brother, Charles, and was finally completed in 1901 by R D Oliver. The Hall is in use (1997) as a private residence.

The de Hoghton family has owned land in the area since the C12 or earlier. The family descends directly from Harvey de Walter, a companion of William the Conqueror, and the de Hoghton name was first assumed in 1150. The enclosure of 500 acres of land for a park at Hoghton is recorded in a charter of 1337 and a licence for the enlargement of the park was granted to Richard de Hoghton in 1386. King James I stayed at Hoghton Tower for three days in 1617 during which time he hunted in the park. The exact boundaries of the historic deer park are unclear but they probably included Hunter’s Hill, c 1km to the north of the Tower, and the nearby sites of Lower Park Farm and Higher Park Farm. King’s Hill, which is c 600m east of the Tower, was probably named to commemorate James I’s visit. Possible boundaries of the deer park are suggested by the following features: a stone wall, called King Stephen’s Wall, which stretches northwards from Pleasington Golf Course to Alum House Wood, c 2km north-east of the Tower; a dyke running along the edge of a stretch of ancient woodland called Wild Bottoms Wood, west of this; a lane running north from Chapel Farm to Bolton Hall, and the line of a track continuing north of Bolton Hall to Wild Bottoms Wood. The estate has remained in the continuous ownership of the de Hoghton family.

Hoghton Tower Gardens

A series of walled gardens probably of C17 origin, a restored C17 or early C18 avenue and Victorian pleasure grounds. The antiquarian interests of the de Hoghton family are reflected in the sympathetic Victorian restoration of the earlier work.

Created: 27  April  2019  Edited: 29  November  2023