Remains of early C18 landscape park with water features, c.5ha.
Shireoaks Hall built c.1600, possibly by Robert Smythson, altered c.1700, again early C19. Remains of C17 terrace north-east of Hall, leading to walled kitchen gardens. Fishpond to north.
To south-west of Hall, grassed area raised on wall, effectively a ha-ha, early C18, looking towards straight, extensive strip of land running in south-westerly direction for 1km to remains of Scratta Wood. This strip essentially a water garden, with rectilinear canal running from Hall for 200m, followed by 34 varied cascades and sections of canal, including 12 oval or circular ponds. Many sections now derelict. At the far end, the scheme began with a circular pond 25m wide, now derelict, and the water flowed downhill towards the house. The water¬course was originally flanked on each side by varied arrangements of alternating yews and limes, and clipped yew hedges, with avenues of beech radiating from the south-west front of the Hall. Most of these plantings now vanished or derelict. (2)
See M5393 for Shireoaks Hall, M5395 for water garden, M5394 for banqueting house.
NB PG is much larger than registered area, extending to the remains of the park wall.

<1> Notts Historic Gardens Trust, 1995-1997, Notts Historic Parks and Gardens Files (Unpublished document). SNT4553.

<2> English Heritage, 1985, Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England - part 33, Notts (Published document). SNT4554.

<3> Garden History eds, 1975, Garden History, p 33 (Serial). SNT4566.

<4> Girouard M, 1983, Robert Smythson and the Elizabethan Country House (Published document). SNT4565.

<5> Thoroton Society, 1967, TTS, pp 72-89 (Published document). SNT380.

<6> Baddeley V, 1994, Some North Notts Parks and Gardens (Unpublished document). SNT1972.