Introduction
Decker Hill was surrounded by a landscape park by at least 1827, and probably even earlier. There were lodges, a temple, ornamental gardens, and hot houses.
By 1827, and probably from the time the house was built around 1810, Decker Hill was surrounded by a park. Two entrance lodges, both of around 1810, were built in a minimal neo-Classical style, and lay at the end of the east side of the house. About 350 metres west of the hall is a temple, also of about 1810. It is a circular neo-Classical building of stone, with a domed ashlar roof. On the south-east is a three-bay colonnade with unfluted Doric colums.
In the 19th century, Decker Hill's
excellent ornamental gardens, conservatories and hot houses, many introduced by
its owner Beriah Botfield, M.P., were favourably commented upon by guidebooks. There was a fine orangery in the 1830s. One
conservatory, with a triple-arched facade and a domed, glass roof, was said in
1910 to have a central revolving stand.
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
Website
http://www.shifnalgolfclub.comOther Websites
- Features & Designations
Features
- Country House (featured building)
- Description: The hall at Decker Hill is a fine Georgian country house, with its entrance flanked by two giant, unfluted Ionic columns. Since 1963, it has been the clubhouse of Shifnal Golf Club.
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- Gate Lodge
- Description: There were two entrance lodges to the east of the house.
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- Doric Temple
- Description: A circular, neo-Classical temple with a Doric colonnade lies 350 metres west of the house.
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- Orangery
- Description: A fine orangery existed in the gardens from the 1830s.
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- Key Information
Type
Park
Purpose
Recreational/sport
Principal Building
Domestic / Residential
Survival
Part: standing remains
Hectares
46
Open to the public
Yes
Civil Parish
Shifnal
- References
References
- Stamper, P.A. {Historic Parks and Gardens of Shropshire}, (Shrewsbury: Shropshire Books, 1996): 56, 60, 64, 111. Historic Parks and Gardens of Shropshire
- Map of the County of Shropshire, 1827
- Watts, S. {Shifnal: a Pictorial History}, (London: Phillimore, 1989): pl. 22. Shifnal: a Pictorial History
- {Guide to the View from Brimstree Hill}, (Shifnal, 1858): 26. Guide to the View from Brimstree Hill