Sundorne Castle

When Sundorne Castle park was first recorded in 1806, it was apparently well established. It incorporated the ruins of Haughmond Abbey, and covered land both to the north and to the south of the Shrewsbury-Newport road. The western extent of the estate was formed by a 60-acre artificial lake, called Sundorne Pool, which was called 'new-made' in 1777. The grounds were partially wooded, and the perimeter of the park was well-defined by the five-mile drive created in the late 18th or very early 19th century. The hall was sited in the north-west of the park, and was approached by a drive, which perhaps was tree-lined, from the main road. The entrance to this drive lay close to the southern extent of the lake.

By 1826-27 there were at least two further drives: one ran west from the Abbey ruins, and a second ran south-east from the north-west extent of the park. A third drive, which survived in 1880 as a trackway, may have run north-west to the hall from the south-eastern boundary of the park.

Between 1826-27 and 1833 there was a reduction in the southern area of the park, where the Shrewsbury-Newport road became the new boundary. Between 1833 and 1880 a further change to the boundaries occurred in the north. Here, some area was lost to the east of the hall, but was somewhat balanced by the additions to the west. Features of the park in the late 19th century included: wooded areas, mainly in the west; a boathouse on the eastern shore of Sundorne Pool; several footpaths and trackways in the south; and a lodge at the entrance of the main avenue. By 1891, a long avenue of hardwoods ran along the foot of Haughmond Hill, and the trees may have flourished there until the mid-20th century.

The gardens around the

house included four acres of kitchen gardens, which in 1919 included a palm house. There were also greenhouses, forcing houses,

and vineries. There were also bothies, presumably to accommodate garden labourers.