The Oulton Estate, was the ancestral home of the Egerton family, who were honoured as Lords of the Manor by King Henry VII. For nearly five centuries, the Egertons were significant local landowners, overseeing vast stretches of Cheshire farmland. The original hall met a tragic fate when it was consumed by fire in 1715. In response, the family commissioned the construction of the opulent baroque-style Oulton Hall, which became a symbol of the family's enduring legacy. Alongside the grandeur of the manor, beautifully designed formal gardens and expansive parkland were established.
Despite its early grandeur, Oulton Hall faced an enormous tragedy on Valentine's Day in 1926, when a devastating fire ravaged the building, leading to the loss of six lives as the roof collapsed amid the inferno. The fire raged for days, necessitating the intervention of multiple fire brigades, marking it as one of the most catastrophic blazes in England's history. In the aftermath, while the main hall was lost, several ancillary structures, including the stable block and farm buildings, survived and have since been recognized for their historical significance with listed status.
During World War II, the estate fell into military hands, compounding the devastation as the remains of the old Hall were bombed. Upon the return of the land to the Egerton family after the war, it was a scene of wreckage marked by rubble, makeshift huts, and a wide, twelve-foot roadway. This chaotic landscape sparked an innovative vision that would breathe new life into the estate, leading to the design and construction of a racing track that would later become famous, thus intertwining the past with the exhilarating future of motorsport.
The items from the Egerton Grey collection within the Autumn Auction were saved from the fire and passed down through the generations. The portrait of Prince Charles Edward is listed in a private inventory the Egerton family had done for Oulton Park in 1864. Within the original description it states the item has ‘long been in the possession of the family, and is a highly prized relic of the period’. Also listed is an early Derby sweetmeat stand, c.1765 standing at 47cm high. Representing Neptune enthroned on a pyramid of shells, corals and seaweeds, it is beautifully modelled and coloured from nature. The entry goes on to state 'it was exhibited at Manchester in 1857, on which occasion the figure of Neptune lost the left arm holding the trident.’