Hale Park

Hale House

Hale House was built by Thomas Archer, Groom Porter to Queen Anne, and Baroque architect, who bought the manor of Hale sometime after 1712. He demolished an Elizbethan mansion which had been designed by John Webb for the Penruddock family. The house was designed and built by Archer around 1715. It was remodelled around 1792 by the architect Henry Holland. Other alterations were made in the early and late 19th century.

The house has two storeys and seven bay-windows at the front. It has cement rendered walls, a portico with pediment and Corinthian columns, and a slate roof. The service wings flank the house but are detached. They also are of two storeys, with cement rendered walls and slate roofs.

It is now a Grade I listed building. The house is in private ownership and is not open to the public.

Hale Park

The grounds were laid out from about 1715 by Thomas Archer. During the 19th century and early 20th century the grounds were simplified and new features were added to the gardens.

The park includes a circular pool surrounded by yew hedging and topiary shapes. There is a Ha ha towards the south. The park contains a number of copses, and lodges including the South Lodge which has a Doric portico. Tree avenues cross the park, including a lime avenue which runs north east to Hatchett Lodge, and extends beyond park. The Mount is possibly from the 17th-century house and is enclosed by hedging.

At one time there was an ice house in the park.

Saint Mary's church

The parish church of Hale is in Hale Park to the north-west of the house. It was originally a medieval church modified in the 17th century, and then rebuilt in 1717 by Thomas Archer. The older nave and chancel were retained, and new transepts added. It was reroofed in the 19th century when a bellcote was added on the north transept. There are stained glass windows in the chancel and south transept.