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 Charles Waterton's Wall - Walton, UK Posted by:  dtrebilc
N 53° 38.083 W 001° 26.747
30U E 602763 N 5944003
This information board is in the grounds of Haw Park Wood, in the grounds of Walton Hall, a former private estate.
Waymark Code: WM17PHC
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/20/2023
Views: 0
Charles Waterton's Wall
Protecting the First Nature Reserve
Charles Waterton created what is widely acknowledged as the first Nature Reserve by building a wall around much of his Walton Estate in order to protect the wildlife within and keep poaches and foxes out.
The wall in parts reached a height of 9ft and stretched to 3 miles in length. Building of the wall began in 1821 and was completed in 1826. The cost - a very sizeable amount in those days - was £9,000. The relative value of the cost today would be in the region of £3 million. The wall was constructed using stone from the Berg Quarry at Overtown, the same stone that was used to build the hall.
The Watch Tower
This is one of possibly 5 watch towers that were dotted around the estate which Charles had constructed to enable him to view wildlife. Today we call them hides and they could be the first of their kind in the world. There is only one left and , with the help of the Rotary Club of Wakefield, is now restored. It sits in the middle of his Heronry which once supported up to 40 pairs of breeding herons, sadly gone today.
Charles created nesting sites from old and decaying trees, possibly the world's first bird nest boxes, nothing like those of today.
Charles was said to have paid for live hedgehogs in order to give them the protection of his park.
Sir David Attenborough said of Waterton:
"One of the first people anywhere to recognise, not only that the natural world was of great importance, but that it needed protection as humanity made more and more demands on it."
The Grotto
The Grotto or picnic grounds as they were also known, were provided by Charles for the public (possibly the first Country Park?). This area consisted of a large grass plot kept nicely mown for picnics, sitting and even dancing. The under boughs cut off so people could walk beneath them and take shelter from the sun or rain, here and there a swing suspended for the amusement of the children.
Gerald Durrell, the late naturalist said of Waterton:
"He was a man who did no harm to the world he lived in, but enhanced it by his presence and his care of it.
Would that we could all have a similar epitaph."
The easiest way to get to this point in the woods is to park at Anglers Country Park and from the car park turn right along Haw Park Lane, that leads into the wood.
Type of Historic Marker: Stand alone information board
Historical Marker Issuing Authority: Wakefield Council
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Age/Event Date: Not listed
Related Website: Not listed
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