Broxton is a civil parish in Cheshire West and Chester, England. It contains 24 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings, The parish includes the Bolesworth Estate, and the settlement of Brown Knowl, and is otherwise rural. The major structure, and the only one listed at Grade II* is the castellatedcountry house, Bolesworth Castle. All the others are listed at Grade II. These include nine structures associated with Bolesworth Caste, the church in Brown Knowl with a tomb in its churchyard, and an 18th-century milestone. Otherwise the listed buildings are related to houses or farms.
The hall was originally built for Thomas Dod, and was extended in 1873, incorporating fabric from the older house, by John Douglas for Sir Philip de Grey Egerton. Further changes were made in 1987–88. The house is timber-framed with plaster panels. The roof is in stone slate, with ornate bargeboards and finials. The house has two storeys, and windows that are mullioned, or mullioned and transomed.[2][3][4]
The house originated as a sandstone farmhouse in two bays, with a shippon on the left, both in 1+1⁄2 storeys. In the late 20th century another bay was added to the right, and the shippon was raised to two storeys. The house has a slate roof, and the windows are casements and gableddormers.[5]
This originated as a two-storey, two bay cottage. This part is timber-framed with rendered brick panels. During the 20th century a single brick bay was added to each end. The roofs are slated. Inside is a restored inglenook with a chamferedbressumer.[6]
The hall was restored and altered in 1886. The original part is timber-framed with plaster panels on a sandstoneplinth. The later parts are in brick, and the building has slate roofs. It is in 2+1⁄2 storeys, and has an almost symmetrical front. There are four gables with bargeboards and finials. The windows are either mullioned, or mullioned and transomed. It was later used as a hotel.[2][7]
This consists of a chamber in the grounds of the hall cut into a sandstone cliff. It is partly lined with sandstone blocks, and formerly had a large window and a doorway. To its right is a natural cave.[2][10]
This is a rectangular brick building in two storeys with a slate roof. It contains recesses and openings of various sizes, doors, and pitch holes, some of which are boarded. There are vents with different shapes, including diamonds and loops, and honeycomb brickwork.[11]
This is a castellatedcountry house, designed by William Cole. The interior was partly remodelled and structures in the grounds were created by Clough Williams-Ellis in 1920–23. It is constructed in sandstone, and is in two storeys, with a three-storey turretted centre portion.[12][13]
A pair of sandstone gate piers to the southwest of the castle, designed by William Cole. On each face are blank arrow slits, and at the tops are a projecting frieze, a cymacornice, and a stone ball.[14]
These consist of two pairs of sandstone gate piers linked by walls, containing wrought iron gates from a later time in the 19th century, standing to the northeast of the castle. The pair to the east, flanking the drive, are surmounted by balls; the pair to the west, leading to parkland and the lake are not.[15]
A sandstone single-arched bridge carrying a track across the lake in the grounds of the castle. The arch is flanked by pilasterbuttresses that contain roundels in the spandrels. The approach to the bridge is between curved wing walls, and its flat parapet is pierced by 14 loops.[16][17]
This is a simple two-storey house three-bay house. It is constructed in white-painted brick with a slategabled roof. It has a wooden Doric-style doorcase with a pediment. The windows are sashes.[19]
Designed by Alfred Waterhouse as a dower house for the Bolesworth estate, it is constructed in brick with sandstone dressings, and has tiled roofs. The plan is irregular. Its features include hippedgables containing ornate circular windows. There is a gabled porch, to the right of which is a square bay window; over this is a smaller canted bay window.[16][21]
This consists of a pier standing on a plinth and a sandstone base, with a cast iron crest. It is the burial place of John Wedgwood who died in 1860 and his wife; Wedgwood was a preacher in the Primitive Methodist church.[2][23]
The Sunday School is attached at right angles to the church, forming an L-plan, with a tower and a vestry in the angle. They are built in brick with stone dressings and bands, and have slate roofs. The gables of the church are pebbledashed. A five-light window faces the road. The tower has traceried panels rather than bell openings.[2][25]
The terrace walls and steps leading down to the lower terrace were designed by Clough Williams-Ellis. The steps are curved and divided, and pass round the sides of a loggia and under an arch.[16][27]
This is an open shelter sited at the south end of the upper terrace in front of the castle. It was designed by Clough Williams-Ellis, and consists of a semicircular sandstone wall with square balusters, containing a semicircular stone seat.[28]
The terrace walls and steps leading down to the middle terrace were designed by Clough Williams-Ellis. The steps form a broad central single flight. On the corners of the walls are urns.[16][29]
