The imposing Sphinx gateway, based on a design by Lord Burlington, was once the main entrance to Brown's park, via the North Lodges. Its massive iron gates were cast in 1768 by Robert Johnson and reputedly hung by John Smeaton. The rest of the 917 acre park was managed by gamekeepers for the benefit of shooting parties. Despite the ravages of open-cast coal mining, abundant evidence of earlier park plans survives. In a field towards Colton traces of a deserted medieval village are still visible, while Grim's dyke, a conspicuous Dark Age earthwork, marks the eastern boundary of the estate.
Today there are seven splendid gardens which attract visitors all the year round.
A traditional herb garden has been created on the west side of the house with a spring garden nearby offering fifteen species of flowering bulbs. To the south there is a grassless Italianate garden with formal flower beds, box, yew and beech hedges, pleached laburnum walks and a clipped hornbeam stilt hedge. Below the Home Farm and starting at the Sphinx Gate is the rhododendron walk which winds its way through expanses of lawn and broad beds of azaleas to the lakes. Near the large lake is an aboretum, and beside the upper lake will be found a bog garden. Beyond, the old walled kitchen garden has, for half a century, been planted with roses flanked by wide herbacious borders.