A Short History

On 20th June 1861 the mansion and gardens of Castle Park were bought at auction by the cotton mill owner Edward Abbott Wright. His family occupied the estate for 70 years. Harriet and Emily, Edward's daughters, lived there until the early 1930s after which it was bequeathed to Runcorn District Council for the enjoyment of the local community.

The Georgian stables and coach house was rescued from dilapidation by a group of local people who set up Castle Park Arts Centre Ltd to lease the property from Vale Royal District Council. By means of grants from various sources and all manner of fundraising activities the structure was refurbished and redesigned to create the Arts Centre.

If you would like to know more about the Wright Family, Castle Park and other tales of Frodsham's history the Frodsham and District Local History Group have a series of illuminating pamphlets on sale in the Arts Centre.

The Courtyard Gates

At the same time that the Arts Centre was restored, it was decided to commission a pair of grand, ornamental gates for the Courtyard. The design of the gates was entrusted to Dianne Gorvin and their construction to Chris Doughty, Frodsham's talented local blacksmith.

The gates show Harriet and Emily Wright in their carriage against a background of trees. Walter Benn their trusty coachman is aloft in the driving seat with the horses standing ready to go. Two nieces of the sisters, fashionably dressed in straw boaters, join them on their outing whilst a third young lady watches them depart.  A squirrel scurries past in the bottom right hand corner.

The Clock

The clock in the Tower was supplied to Joseph Stubs in 1853 and is still working and keeping excellent time.

The clock was silent for two years, with the mechanism protected under plastic sheeting while rebuilding work was in progress. But dust had penetrated everywhere and the clock had to be thoroughly cleaned and overhauled before re-starting to keep time again.