Norton Priory Museum and Gardens, Runcorn, England

Site is open to the public. Opening may be limited, please check Visitor Information for any restrictions.

Brief description of site

Norton Priory is a 16 hectare site with 12th-century priory remains, museum and an 18th-century walled garden. Features include summerhouses, woodland and a rock garden. The walled garden was renovated in the 1980s. Features include a herb garden, a fruit garden, and herbaceous borders. It also has a National Plant Collection of Cydonia Oblonga (tree quince).

Brief history of site

The Priory was founded in 1134 by the Baron of Halton. The dissolution of the monasteries in 1536 brought the end of religious life at Norton. Sir Richard Brooke bought the priory buildings in 1545 and built a Tudor mansion. The walled garden was built between 1757 and 1770 for the Brooke family. When the Brookes left, the garden was leased to commercial market gardeners and was then used for pheasant rearing. From the late-1960s, it became neglected and overgrown. In 1970-71 Norton Priory Trust was formed and archaeologists began excavations. Norton Priory Museum opened to the public in 1985.

Location information:

OS Landranger Map Sheet Number:	108	Grid Ref:	SJ 548 834
Latitude:	53.34555	Longitude:	-2.680398

Key information:

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