Weald Country Park

Weald Country Park began as a medieval deer park in the 12th century.

The landscape today is still based on the 18th century parkland designs with lakes, tree-lined avenues, and large parkland trees. This work was carried out for Hugh Smith, who owned Weald Manor from 1732 to 1745.

The house and park were under military occupation between 1943 to 1945 and suffered considerable damage. The hall was demolished in 1951 following a fire.

In 1953 the park was purchased by Essex County Council to save it as open space for the public, and a programme of replanting the woods lost in the war began. Little trace of the house remains, but you can see remnants of garden buildings and the shape of the 18th century informal landscaping.