Cannon Hall has grown and developed over many centuries, but 2021 is the year that Cannon Hall Park and Gardens will come to the end of a £3.8million Parks for People refurbishment programme, mainly funded by the Heritage and Big Lottery Fund.

The project known as Restoring the Glory, Revealing the Secrets has enabled us to take the parkland and gardens back to the former glory of its Georgian splendour in a way which will have major benefits for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit each year. It will also enhance the way in which Cannon Hall conserves, protects and shares its heritage long into the future.

The main outcomes of the project were to desilt the three lakes, renovate the outside buildings, improve the landscape and open up lost vistas, all these aims have been achieved and a lot more besides.

The project began with the removal of the excess silt and vegetation from the lakes which was preventing its sparkling waters being seen from the Hall, the banks were reformed using the silt, reflecting the original design and the banks were replanted with wildflowers and grasses to encourage our local wildlife.

The walled garden and cottages have been renovated to provide homes for two families, a shop and meeting place for our wonderful and dedicated volunteers. The planting in the walled garden has been created to make more space and to present the new Georgian inspired pond which is placed back in its original position, and the once derelict north glass house is now pride of place and a lovely place to sit and take in the lovely planting and precious pear collection.

The Pleasure grounds are now used for their intended purpose, to relax and reflect, take in the beauty of the location and to see if you can spot the kingfisher hunting for lunch in the pond.

The icehouse and midden, once hidden from visitors have been rediscovered and if you explore further into the DeMorgan family area, what new discoveries will you find? A unicorn or gargoyle perhaps ...

We are also very excited about many of the extra improvements we’ve achieved such as the DeMorgan Discovery family area which now extends down into the parkland to the play area, the replacement glass structures on the north range and enhanced planting in the walled garden, the extra wildflower meadows in the parkland and the work behind the scenes to increase volunteer participation and the extra work placement students learning vital practical skills to prepare them for the future to name a few.

You can now experience and enjoy these new vistas, visit once hidden treasures, discover new experiences, rediscover memories of the past and make new memories of your own.

One visit’s not enough to fit in everything there is to do at Cannon Hall – you’ll see something new every time!