The house was built between 1836-1838 by Sir Gilbert Greenall, the grandson of Thomas Greenall, the famous brewer from St Helens.
The family had built up a huge wealth over the years and purchased the grounds on which Walton Hall sits in 1812.
It was supposedly built by the architect Edmund Sharpe of Lancaster, who later became famous for the Gothic architectural revival in Victorian Britain.
From 1869-70 several extensions were completed, including offices, a billiards room, and the striking clocktower that you see today.
It was Sir Gilbert’s son (also Gilbert) who transformed the Walton Hall from a family estate to the stunning one you see today.
More commonly known as Lord Daresbury, he made the estate into a model of agricultural excellence. Such was the beauty of the gardens and the hall, Lord and Lady Daresbury opened them to the public in 1930, with up to 45,000 people visiting on open days.
In 1941 the hall and grounds were purchased by Warrington Borough Council and were opened to officers and troops during World War II.
After the war ended in Europe on 8th May 1945, the hall and its gardens were opened to the public 11 days later on 19th May.
The hall and gardens remain open to the public today, attracting over 330,000 a year from all over the North West and beyond.