Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Owners of Walton Hall: The Pinfolds

Changes to Walton Hall

Captain Charles Pinfold first made major alterations to Walton Hall around 1800, possibly following his marriage to Lady Maria Stuart in 1801 who apparently made no secret of the fact that she desired to live in a far grander residence. The northern bay of the timber framed house was demolished, and the northwest wing was built to replace it with brick walls and a tiled pitched roof. The roof of the remaining single storey room was lifted, and an additional floor was built on top. This new wing was built in the Georgian style and the building was known as Walton House. The first image on this page shows how the house may have looked at this time. 

 

Charles Pinfold oversaw the greatest alterations to the Hall in around 1830 when the front of the house was replaced by the Regency style white painted stone building that we see today. Sash windows, white rendered walls at the front, brick walls at the back and flat or barrel vault roofs dressed in lead were all added. The barrel roof consists of tiles covered in concrete and these are visible today from inside the Hall. The ceiling is similar to that of the Cellar Bar (situated beneath Walton Hall) which was also constructed around 1830. The second drawing of the Hall on this page shows what it looked like following these major alterations made by Charles Pinfold. During the 1830s and 1840s the building was known as The Mansion House but by 1851 it was known as Walton Hall.

 

The 1830s also saw major changes to the countryside close to Walton Hall. In 1838 part of the first railway line from London to Birmingham was built and Bletchley station - situated three miles from Walton - was opened between 1838 and 1839. It was known initially as Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Station and became a major intercity station, later called Bletchley Junction. A detailed history of Bletchley Station written by Milton Keynes Heritage Association can be read here.

 

In 1830 Charles Pinfold held a sale by auction which was advertised in the Northampton Mercury Newspaper:

“Old and New Hay, Clover & C. To be sold by Auction, by Andrew Gardner. On Wednesday, January the 20^th, 1830, on the premises of Charles Pinfold, Esq. on his Farm at Walton, Bucks;

Comprising upwards 300 Tons of superior old hay and clover, also about 50 Tons of New Ditto; an excellent horse Churn (nearly new), and two other Churns; sundry large milk Leads, two capital new hovel Frames on stone Piers; Quantity of Wheelwright’s Stuff, with numerous other effects.

N.B. The whole of the Hay will be sold in convenient Lots, to be taken off the Premises; and three Months’ Credit will be given on approved Security, on paying a Deposit of £20 per Cent.

The above Hay lies close to the Grand Junction canal. The Auctioneer solicits the favor of the Company to meet him at the Farm-House, at Walton aforesaid at eleven o’clock in the morning, and will immediately proceed to Sale.”

 

View a video about Walton Hall

A short video about Walton Hall was filmed in 2018 and can be viewed here. In it, architectural historian Professor Elizabeth Kellar explores the development of the Hall into the building we see today on The Open University campus. She compares the Regency style at the front built by Captain Charles Pinfold with the older red brick and wooden structure to the rear built originally by the Gilpin family in the late seventeenth century.