Weston Park: The House, the families and the influence

Weston Park is a lesser-known house and contents that were gifted to the nation in 1986 by Richard, 7th Earl of Bradford. The house had a vast geographical spread and was linked with neighboring counties and urban centers. The owners and staff of Weston Park played a pivotal role in the development of these places, and the family was involved in national affairs, politics, the legal profession, and the military. The house became a repository of important patronage and collections, including a late seventeenth and early eighteenth century collection of paintings assembled by Francis Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford and his younger son, Thomas. This book seeks to tell the story of the house, its setting, extraordinary collections, and its influence on wider communities through the history of those who have owned and cared for it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Weston Park, a magnificent estate with a rich history and territorial and social influence, deserves greater recognition than it currently receives. The house and its contents, nestled within a vast thousand-acre landscape park, were graciously gifted to the nation in 1986 by Richard, the 7th Earl of Bradford. Prior to that, Weston Park had been passed down through generations, often through the female line, and it stood as the centerpiece of a vast estate spanning several counties and connecting it to neighboring urban centers such as Walsall, Bolton, and Wigan. The owners and staff of Weston Park played a pivotal role in the development of these places, while the family also had a significant presence in national affairs, politics, the legal profession, and the military. Their seat at Weston Park not only provided a fitting home for royalty and politicians but also became a repository of important patronage and collections. Among these, the late seventeenth and early eighteenth-century collection of paintings assembled by Francis Newport, the 1st Earl of Bradford, and his younger son, Thomas, holds immense significance.meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this book aims to chronicle the story of Weston Park, its stunning setting, extraordinary collections, and the profound impact it has had on wider communities throughout its history.

Dimension: 297 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276127