Hawkstone Park

Useful Information

Location:	Shropshire. 18 km northeast of Shrewsbury, between Shrewsbury and Whitchurch. M6 exit Stooke-on-Trent, A53 to Whitchurch, A49 towards Shrewsbury. M54/A6 to Shrewsbury, A49 towards Whitchurch. (52°51'N, 2°38'W)
Open:	06-JAN to MAR Sat, Sun 10-15:30. APR-JUN Wed-Fri 10:30-16, Sat, Sun, Bank Hollidays 10-16. JUL-AUG Mon-Fri 10:30-17, Sat, Sun, Bank Hollidays 10-17. SEP-OCT Wed-Fri 10:30-16, Sat, Sun, Bank Hollidays 10-16. NOV to 05-JAN closed. End time means last admission to park.
Fee:	Week days: Adults GBP 4.50, Children (<16) GBP 2.50, Senior Citizens, Students GBP 3.50, Family (2a+3c) GBP 12.00. Sat, Sun, Bank Holidays: Adults GBP 5.00, Children (<16) GBP 3.00, Senior Citizens, Students GBP 4.00, Family (2a+3c) GBP 14.00. Winter Weekends: Adults GBP 3.50, Children (<16) GBP 2.00, Senior Citizens, Students GBP 2.50, Family (2a+3c) GBP 10.00. Groups (20+): 25% discount.
Classification:	mostly artificial caves in sandstone.
Light:	bring electric torches
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Graham Phillips, Martin Keatman (1993): King Arthur: the True Story, Paperback, 224 pages, Arrow; ISBN: 0099296810 amazon.com Harriet Crawford (1979): Subterranean Britain, Aspects of Underground Archaeology. John Baker, London, 201 pp numerous illus. pp 183-185
Address:	Hawkstone Park Hotel, Golf Centre, Historic Park and Follies, Weston-under-Redcastle, Nr Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 5UY, Tel: +44-1939-200-611, Fax: +44-1939-200-311. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1227	Henry de Audley, a favourite of Henry III, purchased this area and built Red Castle.
1737	Sir Rowland Hill started to buy the castle and ground in three portions.
1783	his son, Sir Richard Hill became owner and built most of the antiquities and follies.
1790's	grotto beautifully decorated with shells, fossils and other petrifications by the two Miss Hills which took three years.

Description

Hawkstone Park is a bizarre place, a 40 hectare park with follies, woodland, caves and cliffs, built in the 18th century by Sir Rowland Hill. A 2.5-hour walking tour takes you up the White Tower (from which thirteen counties are said to be visible on a clear day), over the Swiss Bridge, into theHermit's Cave and rhododendron jungle, and through a rocky chasm. Of course, you can spend much more time in the park, as there are more weird sights, and there is no time limit. Visitors are free to spend as much time as they wish at the site which interests them most. Allow four hours for the complete circuit.

The caves are located in Grotto Hill, man made caverns carved out of the white sandstone with huge support pillars who support the ceiling. Traces of malachite and other copper deposits in the walls nourish speculations about an Roman copper mine. We would recommend taking a torch to be able to fully explore the tunnels and passageway. Walking shoes and appropriate clothing are also a good idea.

More recently, Hawkstone Park was in the headlines, when Graham Phillips, the author of King Arthur - The True Story and In Search of the Grail announced, that the parkland may have been the final resting place of King Arthur. The owners used the publicity and made a presentation about "King Arthur" in the grotto, where the legend is explained. Even if you never visited Hawkstone, you may have already seen it: the BBC TV series Land of Narnia was filmed here.