England's Lost Country Houses | Alton Towers Derelict and surplus to requirements As the adults and children run between the amusements which now fill the grounds of Alton Towers, few will think about the once lavish seat of the Earls of Shrewsbury which gives the theme park its name, reduced as it is now to gift shop and garden ornament. Once a glorious showpiece - considered one of A.W.N Pugin's masterpieces - with superb collections of paintings and armour, and aristocratic connections to match, it was designed for pleasure but fell victim to family circumstances and wilful neglect. Alton Towers has a long history and was first known as Alton Lodge before becoming Alton Abbey and finally Alton Towers. Originally a minor seat, but one with which the Earls of Shrewsbury had long family connections being part descended from the Verdun and Furnival families who had owned land in Alton. This was to be an important factor in the future development in the estate as the Talbots sought to reconnect with their medieval past as it was fashionable to do in the eighteenth century.

Shortcut: this is a rather in-depth look at the architectural history including the previous houses so here's a link to skip to the main section: Alton Towers Alton Lodge It's known that there was a house at Alton in at least 1686 when it was referred to as 'the old Lodge' in Dr Robert Plot's 'Natural History of Staffordshire'. Alton Lodge was a relatively modest Classical-style house - rectangular, two and half-storeys high with four, square-headed windows per floor. A low, pitched roof was concealed behind a parapet and to the rear of the house engravings show a circular tower rising just above the main house. This tower - the first of the many which eventually gave the house its final name - was probably part of a much older building. It was obviously considered important as not only had it been preserved during the building of the Lodge but it was to survive the many extensive remodellings which took place around it over then next 200 years. It can even today still be seen within the overall structure of the Towers, linked to the only surviving wall of Alton Lodge. The Lodge was formed of two wings, offset by ten degrees, with the circular tower at the centre.

An occasional summer residence, the Talbots would live in the grander rooms in the formal east wing with the estate manager, John Burton and family, in the west wing. Even the gardens were split with a large section adjoining the west wing marked as 'Burton's Gardens'. This peripheral existence was to change with the fifteenth Earl of Shrewsbury, Charles, (b.1753 - d.1827) who was so impressed with the location and views that he decided to not only improve the gardens but also "...by adding a few apartments to a house which had formerly been occupied by a steward, render it fit for his occasional reception, with a small suite."1 (emphasis mine). This "small suite" was to be the first part of a building programme which would consume prodigious amounts of money, involve several architects and result in one of the greatest gardens in Europe and one it's finest houses. Works started around 1800 and for the next fifty years were to become the major project of both fifteenth and sixteenth Earls with either construction or plans in progress each year.

Work started relatively slowly; in 1804, a payment was made to local architect William Lees of Derby (who had also worked on Locko Park and Darley Abbey) for a drawing of the Lodge, followed by another payment, in 1806, for plans for a new room and his attendance on site. In December 1806, a payment was made for designs for a new dining-room, bedroom and passage and also for 'new gardens' including fishponds and a canal. It was the grounds which were to be the main focus for the 15th Earl; to the east of the house lay a large valley which was mainly inhabited by rabbits. The Earl had seen the potential for this site early on and was very involved in the design despite employing John Claudius Loudon (b.1783 – d.1843) , a renowned landscape architect, and also the garden specialists Robert Abraham (b.1774- d.1850) and Thomas Allason (b.1790 - d.1852).

Alton Abbey These relatively limited works led to a much more extensive programme which started in 1811 and was to last ten years. At the same time, accounts started to refer to the house as Alton Abbey and by 1812 that name had become the new official title even though in 1811 the building work had yet to begin. The name was an obvious indicator of the Earl's intentions with regards to the style and possibly the scale of his changes, but was also part of the contemporary fashion (as satirised in Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey' for houses to take on a monastic or religious name regardless of accuracy). As one of the leading Catholic families in the area they were barred from taking part in public life or the Napoleonic Wars, so leaving the Earl with few distractions from his project. The Gothic Revival style chosen by the Earl was probably influenced by the famous Fonthill Abbey , built for William Beckford by James Wyatt in 1795, with its 120-foot vaulted hall and 300-foot tower. Though there is no evidence that Wyatt was involved at Alton, the influence of Fonthill's design would have certainly reached Staffordshire.

The works involved the demolition of the Burton's section of the Lodge and removal of the diary and estate functions away from the main house. The overall style for the house was very much part of the Romantic fashion with an asymmetrical layout and a fanciful and varied skyline. Part of this irregularity was by design as the Romantics favoured a more organic design but also in part due to interference from the Earl. He would take a close interest in the design and offer his own alterations which, no sooner completed, were again altered and enlarged at his whim. However, the overall design was taking on a certain coherence with an emphasis on the creation of long enfilades running through the main rooms.

The long-suffering architects during the period 1811-1820 were Thomas Hopper (b.1776 - d.1856) who was responsible for the conservatory, William Hollins of Birmingham (b.1763 - d.1843), who was responsible for changes to the old hall in 1817 and some ornamental work, and, most significantly, Thomas Allason, commissioned by the Earl in 1819-20, who designed the north Entrance Hall, Chapel, great Drawing Room, Long Gallery and dining room. If no more changes had been made after 1820, Alton Abbey would still have been regarded as one of the best of the Gothic houses in the region built around that time, such as nearby Ilam Hall which was built in 1816 for Jesse Watts-Russell by John Shaw (dem. c1935) or Snelston Hall built in 1828 to designs by L.N. Cottingham (dem. 1953), which bore strong similarities with Alton Abbey.

The 1820s were a relatively quiet time for the house with the focus now shifting to the gardens to the north east. Architecturally, the most important works were the Pagoda Fountain, started in 1826, the finishing of the Gothic Flag Tower, started in 1810, the Conservatory, Orangery, Gothic Prospect Tower and the Gothic Loggia. Besides these buildings much of the landscape planting was being completed. The overall effect would have been somewhat jarring with new buildings sited amongst sparse greenery - in fact, considering how long it would take the trees to mature, those working in the gardens must have known that they would not live to see the full effect. One of those who didn't was the fifteenth Earl who had been the driving force - and sometimes interfering architect - for the whole project, dying as he did in 1827. He was succeeded by his nephew, John (b. 1791 - d.1852), who not only completed the work on the gardens but also started the next round of changes to house, changing it from 'Abbey' to 'Towers'.

Alton Towers The largest phase of development started in 1832 and would effectively double the size of the house Earl John had inherited. John not only completed the works started by his uncle but also added to meet his own requirements. Principally, these developments were the adding of new storeys, a new chapel, and also domestic enhancements including new coal vaults and extensive cellars and a new gallery. The works were to absorb the equivalent of over £1.2m per year throughout the 1830s rising to double that by 1838. Perhaps most interestingly, at the same time as work started, the house became known as 'The Towers'. This changes can be attributed to a number of factors; firstly, the house was increasingly becoming more medieval in style, harking back to the Shrewsbury's long connection with the area through the Verduns and Furnivals. The 'abbey' style of architecture had proved to be something a fad, it's rise and fall in popularity following that of the most extravagant example, Fonthill Abbey. Secondly, an abbey is a religious residence, which his house obviously wasn't nor had ever been, which may have offended his strict Catholic principles.

The relaxation of the restrictions on Catholics after 1829 also meant a resurgence in a true Gothic Revival allied with sound ecclesiastical principles as championed by A.W.N. Pugin (b.1812 - d. 1852) - an architect who was to become increasingly important in the development of Alton Towers from 1837 and also architecture in Staffordshire. Some of the early changes were driven by necessity and were completed by Thomas Fradgley (b.1801 - d.1883) who had been employed since 1820, and was principal architect and builder from 1830 until Pugin's arrival in 1837. Unlike his uncle, the sixteenth Earl had married and produced a family which the Abbey was not designed for, so extra rooms were simply added on top of the existing ones. The sixteenth Earl was also an avid collector of paintings, sculpture and fine furniture all of which required suitable space for display. This issue was also exacerbated by the serious fire at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire in 1831 which, until that point, had been the Shrewsbury's principal seat.

The objects and furnishings salvaged from the blaze were all shipped to Alton Towers with Heythrop left as a shell until sold in 1871 to the Brassey family. One of the most important elements of the house was the formal alignment of rooms to create long views (enfilades). The central point for the house as the Octagon - a beautiful, vaulted room of which ran the Talbot Gallery and the Picture Gallery of which ran the Armoury. These rooms were built between 1824 and 1840, creating a single view 480-foot long, in a very similar arrangement to that created by Wyatt at Fonthill. These also formed a new entrance route for guests who would alight from the Entrance Tower at the end of the Armoury which they would then pass through before entering the Picture Gallery and then the Octagon - a route designed to ensure that any guest was left in no doubt about the importance of the Earls of Shrewsbury. Pugin came late to the works at Alton Towers in September 1837 but he was to have a profound effect particularly on the interiors but also in Staffordshire through the patronage of the Earl.

Both architect and patron were staunch Catholics and Pugin's visionary commitment to what he said was the only 'Christian' style of architecture. In the Earl he found a willing and committed supporter who, over time, became almost a friend to Pugin - in as far as was appropriate. The patronage of such an eminent aristocrat ensured that Pugin was able to come wield such influence nationally, creating a new movement for Gothic, reaching far beyond architecture to include books, wallpaper, plasterwork, churches and many other areas of design. It was at Alton Towers that Pugin had that rare opportunity to combine his creative genius with his patron's ardent support and, most importantly, a lavish (though not unlimited) budget. Besides the extensions, it was the interiors he created for the Earl would now be regarded as one of the finest examples of the type - his masterpiece. Though much of the work already completed would have irritated Pugin and his 'True Principles' he worked with it rather than recommend tearing it all down - with the exception of the Dining Room over which architect and client disagreed but with the former winning out eventually.

The interiors were tour-de-force of Gothic detailing, with vaulted ceilings, fine tracery, exquisite carvings and the doors, panelling and light fittings produced to Pugin's designs. His prodigious output was to continue for the rest of his life until his untimely death in September 1852 - matched by that of the Earl from malaria a few months later, thus ending one of the most remarkable and influential architectural and artistic partnerships of the nineteenth century. Pugin's work represented the high-point for Alton Towers; the culmination of massive expenditure on the building, interiors and contents to create a seat worthy of the Earls of Shrewsbury. The slow decline over the next 100 years to the ruined shell started here. Following the death of the sixteenth Earl, it was his cousin Bertram Arthur Talbot, a sickly nineteen year old, who inherited the title and estates, becoming the seventeenth Earl of Shrewsbury. At the same time, Pugin's eldest son, Edward, sought to carry on his father's work.

Bertram had inherited his uncle's passion for church-building and he and Edward Pugin worked to realise their forebears dream of a cathedral for Shrewsbury and the completion of Alton Towers. However, the early death of Bertram in 1856 not only ended the senior line of the Talbot family but also the various ecclesiastical projects throughout Staffordshire. Both Earl John and Bertram knew that he was unlikely to live long, marry or produce an heir so both arranged their wills to ensure that the Shrewsbury titles and wealth remained in Catholic hands by leaving it to the Dukes of Norfolk. However this was thwarted by legal action after Bertram's death by Henry Chetwynd-Talbot who, after prolonged litigation, was declared the rightful owner of the title and most of the estates. Crucially, he was not the owner of the contents so his 'celebration' dinner on taking possession of Alton Towers was in an largely empty house, the entire contents having been sold off by the executors in a huge auction of over 4,000 lots in July-August 1857.

Many of Pugin's carefully considered furnishings and fittings were stripped and sold, however, much remained including the impressive chapel. Once he had finally taken possession in 1860, the eighteenth Earl, financially depleted by the legal action, was faced with having to re-furnish the vast house. Photos from the 1890s show rooms populated with an odd collection of furniture - a poor attempt compared to the grand designs of Pugin and the previous Earls. The Chetwynd-Talbots main home was Ingestre Hall which it remained apart from a short period in the 1880s following a severe fire which necessitated the rebuilding of the house during which they moved to Alton Towers. During this time, little structural work was completed on the Towers, with work largely limited to maintenance. Sadly, after Bertram's death the house was never again to be furnished to the lavish scale or cared for in a way that it had enjoyed over the previous sixty years. In the 1890s, the twentieth Earl, Charles Henry John Chetwynd-Talbot, faced with the usual mismatch between a vast house and limited wealth started opening and developing the gardens as a serious tourist attraction.

A cross between a circus and a massive fete these events drew crowds of thousands who also came to see the gardens which were immaculately maintained during this time. However, following the Earl's divorce in 1896 it was his impoverished wife who remained at the Towers, with no money for even the basic maintenance necessary for a house of this size. Most of the Alton estates were sold in 1918 followed by the sale of the remainder, including Alton Towers, in 1924. A grand auction was held in the same year which again cleared the house of the contents, following which it was never to be lived in a home again. The house had finally passed from the Talbot family after nearly seven hundred years of continuous ownership during which they had created one of the great country houses of England. The house, although empty, still retained many of it's fixtures and fittings including the stained glass, panelling, carved doors and lavish wallpaper. However, shortly after the house was sold, reports started that some of these items were being stripped out and sold.

Letters dated from July 1924 from the architects building the new office block for the Leek textile firm 'Wardle and Davenport' discuss the purchase of large quantities of panelling ('250ft run for £450'), quantities of stone and doors. Unfortunately the office block was demolished in the 1970s so there is no way of knowing exactly what was incorporated. Throughout the 1920s and 30s the Dining Room and Music Room were turned into tea rooms for the many visitors to the gardens. The real destruction of the interior started after the Second World War. The Army requisitioned Alton Towers for use by Cadets but were surprisingly good caretakers, though the programme of essential maintenance was largely curtailed. A photographic survey by the National Monuments Record in 1951 showed the house in remarkably good condition. However, the owners in 1952 used the Army occupation as a convenient excuse to strip out anything of any possible saleable value from the roofs to the floorboards and everything in between. Local residents recall lorries piled high with timber and materials passing through Alton village for weeks and although a few protested, their calls fell on deaf ears.

Eventually, the remaining unsold materials were piled in the east end of the house and simply set alight. The combination of fire and removal of the floors meant that by the time the owners had finished the house was a empty, derelict, partially burnt-out shell. Today, the Armoury is used as the gift shop with little of the rest of the house used. Some remedial work in the 1970s re-inserted some floors to help provide some structural stability but one of the greatest and most important buildings of the Gothic Revival has been left a denuded shell by the twists of fate which let it fall into the hands of the breakers. Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four seriously hurt - BBC News BBC News Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four seriously hurt 2 June 2015 Close share panel Media captionParamedics treat injured at Alton Towers Four people have been seriously hurt in a crash between two carriages on a rollercoaster ride at Alton Towers. Sixteen people were in one carriage of the Smiler ride; the other was empty.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said two men, aged 18 and 27, and two women, aged 19 and 17, suffered "significant lower limb injuries". They were airlifted to trauma centres in Stoke and Coventry for treatment. Alton Towers said all guests involved were evacuated by 18:35 BST. A director described it as "the most serious incident" in the park's history. The passengers were trapped for several hours on the ride, about 25ft (7.6m) above the ground. Eyewitnesses reported hearing "a loud crash" when the crash happened at 14:09. Ben Richardson said: "When the second carriage crashed people were screaming and shouting - even after it stopped. Everyone around the park ran over. "The people looked significantly distressed. It was almost like a car crash, very full-on." Image copyright WMAS Image caption The ambulance and fire services worked to rescue the badly-injured Alton Towers said first responders based at the park were on the scene "within minutes", quickly followed by the emergency services. Hospital trauma team consultants were also brought in to help treat passengers.

Alton Towers has said the park will be closed on Wednesday "following the dreadful incident on The Smiler". In a statement the theme park said: "All guests with pre-booked tickets, or those who arrive at the theme park, will have the choice of either having their tickets revalidated for an alternative date or a full refund." Media caption"Thomas", 14, filmed the moments immediately after the crash Sophie Underwood, who was in the park at the time of the crash, said: "It wasn't very high but it was obviously high enough for them to cause some quite serious injuries to the people that were on the rollercoaster. "They literally had come back off and round the back of a loop, and straight into another empty coach that had been stuck." Image copyright WMAS Image caption Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service built a platform to help people off the ride The Smiler opened in May 2013 and is billed as the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster. It holds the official Guinness World Record for most loops in a rollercoaster, according to the Alton Towers website.

The resort claims it features "a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near misses designed to mess with your mind". There have been several accidents and incidents involving the £18m ride since it opened in May 2013. History of problems It closed again in August 2013 for five days due to a "technical issue" . In November 2013 it closed for five days after wheels fell off and hit four people in the front carriage . The injured people were looked after by park staff and did not need treatment by the ambulance service, a spokeswoman said at the time. Riders were also left stranded in the air when the ride ground to a halt at the top of a near vertical section 14 months ago. Image copyright Kirsty Wild Image caption The Smiler opened in May 2013 and is billed as the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster 'Loud crash' Ellis Dyson, 23, who was in the queue for the ride, added: "The ride was delayed because of a technical fault for a while and then the ride came back on.

"They sent a carriage without any people on it first and then sent a carriage with people on and that was the one that crashed. The platform of the ride where we were vibrated and a massive loud crash." Visitors reported on social media that the ride had broken down earlier in the day. Media captionEyewitness Ben Richardson: "People were screaming and shouting" Lucy Farrugia said: "Smiler broke down when I was on it this morning and now it's crashed. Hope everyone on it is OK, saw the air ambulance arrive." Merlin Entertainments said there would be a "full investigation" and the Health and Safety Executive were already on site. The Smiler ride Alton Towers REX FEATURES Ian Crabbe, divisional director at Alton Towers said the whole team at the park was "devastated" by the incident. "Our thoughts and main concerns and focus are with injured people and the 16 people that were stuck on the train and their immediate families. That is our major concern," he said. Merlin Entertainments was the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 after the crash, with shares down 3%.

It is the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator behind Disney and runs 105 attractions, 11 hotels and three holiday villages in 23 countries. A help-line for concerned relatives has been set up by the Park which is 0800 230 0770. Alton Towers Alton Towers is located near the village of Alton in Staffordshire and used to be a country estate. It originally became a tourist attraction because of its gardens, but travelling fun fair rides were added to the grounds in the 1950s. The installation of the Corkscrew rollercoaster in 1980 is regarded as a key point in the development of Alton Towers into a major theme park. It now has some of the UK's best known rollercoasters - including Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and Rita - and attracts millions of visitors every year.

Alton Towers Hotel (Alton, GBR) | Expedia Alton Towers Hotel, Staffordshire Alton Towers Hotel, Staffordshire, current page Alton Towers Hotel Hotel Price Guarantee Exclusive for Expedia+ members Book your hotel today, and if you find the same hotel for a cheaper price elsewhere online, we'll refund the difference up until midnight before check-in. Terms & ConditionsOpens in a new window apply. Price Guarantee Get more as an Expedia+ member Hotel Price Guarantee available Find a cheaper hotel within 24 hours of booking. We will refund the difference and give you a travel coupon worth $50. As a member, you receive price matching up until midnight before check-in. Not a member? Join now. ALTON TOWERS - 1000191| Historic England ALTON TOWERS List Entry Summary This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by English Heritage for its special historic interest. Name: ALTON TOWERS The garden or other land may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: Staffordshire National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.

Grade: I Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System: Parks and Gardens UID: 1097 Asset Groupings This list entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information. List entry Description Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Reasons for Designation Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Details An early C19 valley garden with a great variety of garden buildings associated with a major early C19 country house. HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT Charles Talbot succeeded his uncle as fifteenth Earl of Shrewsbury in 1787. Among the family estates was a considerable acreage in north Staffordshire, run by a steward from a farm at Alton.

Impressed by the natural beauty of the area, and by his family's connections with the locality, the new Earl determined to make a home there, and until his death in 1827 devoted considerable resources to the construction of a house, and to the transformation of the adjacent valley from a dry wilderness occupied by a huge rabbit colony to an extensive pleasure ground. Work on the house and landscape was completed by the sixteenth Earl. He died in 1852 (a year which also saw the death of his architect A W N Pugin), and his successor in 1856. The seventeenth Earl's will was contested, and in 1857 the house's contents had to be put up for sale. Although the family continued to live at the Towers until 1923 the bulk of the estate was sold in 1918; the house and the remaining lands passed to a group of local businessmen in 1924. From 1839 the grounds of Alton Towers were opened to the public at certain times of the year. Railways boosted visitor numbers, and in the later C19 century the twentieth Earl began to promote special events on Bank Holidays.

The new owners of 1924 invested heavily in the grounds, and it was a major attraction in the inter-war years. Alton Towers was acquired by the Tussauds Group (part of Pearsons PLC) in 1990, and a further phase of investment began. DESCRIPTION LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING Alton Towers stands on the north side of the Churnet Valley, c 1km north of the village of Alton and 6km east of Cheadle. To the south the park is bounded by the dismantled railway line and the drain to its north, which follows the north bank of the River Churnet; to the west by Farley Lane which climbs steeply north from Alton village; and to the north by Wootton Lane. Beyond the present east end of the park, c 2km from the house, the ground falls to a series of ponds and lakes, the largest of which is Brooklays Lake. The house stands near the head of a steep subsidiary valley running south-east into the Churnet Valley, the upper part of which valley was developed in the early C19 as the house's main pleasure grounds.

The area here registered comprises c 135ha. ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES In the 1990s the two main entrances to the complex, for the public and for trade deliveries, were off the northern part of Farley Lane which bounds the site to the west. The more southerly, trade, entrance has early C19 gate piers and iron gates (listed grade II). A hundred metres to the south is another entrance, with late C19 gates and gate piers (listed grade II) which now serves Horseshoe Wood, a private house. The main approach from the south in the C19 was from Quixhill c 3km to the south-east, via an arched entrance with pavilions to either side of 1822 by J B Papworth. As it nears Alton Towers the Quixhill Drive runs along and outside the south side of the deer park; an early C19 pedimented milestone with an iron plaque, c 300m west of Ina's Rock, records the distance to 'Alton Abbey'.

About 1848 Station, or Tudor, Lodge (listed grade II) was built 500m south of Alton Towers, near the village railway station. Designed by A W N Pugin, who called it the Gate House, the two-storey stone lodge is in the Tudor Gothic style. Pink Lodge, 400m north of Station Lodge on the west side of Farley Lane, is a substantial mid C19 brick building, slightly Italianate in style and with two projecting towers as its most prominent elements. It stands at the entrance to Barbary Gutter, apparently a westward extension of the grounds. PRINCIPAL BUILDING Alton Towers (listed grade II*) is a castellated gothic building of irregular plan and form in sandstone ashlar. The north range, containing the entrance and many of the principal rooms, is linked to a parallel south range which contained picture galleries by two linking blocks, the main public route being via the more central one comprising a conservatory and octagonal orangery. On top of the west range was a viewing platform. In the later 1990s the house was semi-derelict, although parts had seen partial restoration.

Portions of the C18 Alveton Lodge survive in the area east of the Banqueting Hall. Transformation of the Lodge into Alton Towers was the responsibility of several architects. Thomas Hopper (d 1856) and William Hollins (d 1843) were involved in the first main phase of work from c 1810, but the creation of 'Alton Abbey' as a crenellated house with a grand entrance facing the lake was principally the work of Thomas Allason (d 1852). Though there is no direct evidence for attributing any of the work at Alton to James Wyatt, the influence of Wyatt on other architects is evident in such features as the great galleries linked by a central Octagon, clearly derived from Wyatt's contemporary work at Fonthill Abbey (Wilts). Allason's principal successor as architect was Uttoxeter-based Thomas Fradgley (d 1883) who was responsible for the West Wing and, along with Joseph Potter of Lichfield, the Chapel.

After 1831 Alton was the family's main home, and the sixteenth Earl, who like his three immediate predecessors was a Roman Catholic, brought in A W N Pugin (himself a recent convert to Catholicism) to replace Fradgley. Pugin's most significant contributions included alterations to the Octagon and the Talbot Gallery, making the Banqueting Hall, the rooms over the Great Drawing Room, and internal furnishings and decorations including those of the chapel. After the Second World War the house became derelict. Restoration work began in the early 1990s. GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS Two gardens lie within the Alton Towers house complex. West of the conservatory is the Star Garden, now (1997) lawn, named after its star-shaped fountain basin. East of the conservatory and south of the chapel is Her Ladyship's Garden; a raised walk at its east end overlooks a lawn with fountain (listed grade II), clipped yews, and statuary. Attached to the east side of the house's gatehouse is a roughly square, sandstone ashlar, walled garden (listed grade II), overgrown but containing mature specimen conifers.

Within the garden is a mount, on top of which is The Dovecote (listed grade II), an early C19 octagonal, arcaded, timber gazebo on a sandstone base. The weather vane is of 1848 and by Pugin. Dense and tall vegetation now obscures the views originally enjoyed from the top of the mound, notably that east to the conservatory. In the south-east corner is a small oratory with a floriated cross on the gable, by Pugin and of c 1848. Lawns with specimen conifers lie to the north of the house, with beyond (c 200m from the entrance) the Boating Lake. That is bounded, to the north, by a crenellated wall with turret-like projections (listed grade II). To the east the Lake is retained by a low, arcaded, 100m long stone wall (listed grade II), apparently a bridge when viewed from the west. It was probably designed by J B Papworth c 1820.

The causeway formed by the wall carries a drive from the north front of the house to the early C19 Ingestre Stables Courtyard (listed grade II) c 400m to the north-east of the house. The Italian Garden, the first component of the main valley garden, is entered under the early C19 White Bridge (listed grade II) which carries the drive to the Stables Courtyard and stands c 100m south of the south end of the Boating Lake causeway. Running off to either side of the bridge, and defining the end of the Italian Garden, is a tall sandstone ashlar retaining wall with a lobed top (listed grade II; several other retaining walls in the valley, not hereunder noted, are also listed), this wall continuing east around the whole of the north side of the garden. Statues and urns which stood between the lobes had been removed for safe storage in 1997. The Italian garden, laid to lawns with flower beds, contains the Choragic Monument (listed grade II*), raised c 1830 to the memory of the fifteenth Earl.

From this garden there are views east, down and along the valley garden which is densely planted with a very wide variety of specimen trees and shrubs (particularly heaths, azaleas, Japanese maples, rhododendrons and dwarf conifers), many of the former presumably dating from the earlier C19. Down the centre of the valley is a series of four pools. The first, westernmost, is the Canal. This is crossed by the Miniature Bridge, an early C19 cast-iron footbridge (listed grade II), while north of the east end of the pool is a 1920s bandstand. Rising from the third pool, and forming one of the main foci within the garden, is Robert Abraham's tall Pagoda Fountain (listed grade II*) of c 1831. Of green and red painted cast-iron and three main stages, the fountain is a copy of the To-ho pagoda in Canton. Most of the buildings and structures within the valley garden stand along the upper part of its north side.

About 140m north-east of the White Bridge is the Orangery (listed grade II), of c 1824 and probably by Robert Abraham, a semi-derelict (1997) ashlar structure with one (of two) surviving cast-iron dome. On the terrace to its immediate south are features including an early C19 pool and fountain (listed grade II), urns, statuary and a sundial, mostly early C19 (listed grade II). On the rising ground behind (north of) the Orangery is Stonehenge (listed grade II), an early C19 megalithic construction of three bays with a two-tier central bay; the overall effect is of an oriental arch rather than a European prehistoric structure. About 30m east of the terrace south of the Orangery is arguably the most impressive feature of the gardens, Robert Abraham's Conservatory (listed grade II*) of c 1824, a long, single-storey ashlar and cast-iron structure surmounted with seven glazed domes, the central one considerably larger than the rest.

On the terrace at the east end of the Conservatory is an early C19 circular stone summerhouse (listed grade II) with an east-facing basement grotto. Leading east from the east end of the Conservatory is a series of yew arches, the lobed wall continuing parallel and to the immediate north. On the terrace below (south of) the east end of the Conservatory is an early C19 single-storey loggia (listed grade II) of nine bays. Immediately east of the loggia is Le Refuge (listed grade II), an early C19 ashlar summerhouse built into the retaining terrace wall. In front of Le Refuge is The Roman Bath (listed grade II), an oval pool with a Coade stone statue of a merboy dated 1819. Some 100m east of the Conservatory is the Corkscrew Fountain (listed grade II), an unusual early C19 structure comprising four tiers of squat spiral fluted pillars diminishing in size upwards. North-east of this are two ponds, fed from the Boating Lake, which supply the various fountains and water features in the valley.

Sixty metres south-east of the Corkscrew Fountain is the Prospect Tower (listed grade II*; sometimes called the Gothic Temple), an octagonal, gothic, three-stage cast-iron observation tower of c 1824 by Robert Abraham. The main view from the tower is roughly west, up the valley garden and to Alton Towers. A tunnel-like cave is cut into the mound on which the tower stands. High on the south side of the valley garden, and looking across it, is Swiss Cottage (now the Garden Terrace Restaurant; listed grade II, as is the retaining wall 20m to the north ), a two-storey brick building of 1835 by Thomas Fradgley with elaborate bargeboards. The house was also known as Harper's Cottage, initially being the residence of a blind harper whose music contributed to the elysian ambience. The first phase of the gardens' creation (c 1814-27) was variously the responsibility of the fifteenth Earl, and of two professional designers, Robert Abraham (1774-1850) and Thomas Allason (1790-1852).

The intention was to produce gardens filled with sounds and fragrances evoking fabled times and enchanted places. Water was brought two miles to the site to the new lake in front of the house, from which the various other lakes and water features were supplied. Landscaping of the valley was completed by the sixteenth Earl, who saw through various building schemes as well as introducing many imported shrubs and trees. In 1822 J C Loudon (whose own scheme for Alton had been rejected) opined of Alton 'We consider the greater part of it in excessively bad taste, or rather, perhaps the work of a morbid imagination joined to the command of unlimited resources' (Encyclopaedia of Gardening, 327-35). W A Nesfield (d 1881) was called in to lay out parterres at Alton before 1857. PARK The outer landscape of Alton Towers comprised two main elements: the deer park extending c 1km to the east of the house, and the wooded walks around the west and south sides of the rocky slopes below this.

The deer park has now (late 1990s) been almost wholly subsumed under the buildings and car parks of the leisure park. The low, stone, deer park wall and its inner ditch, however, which border the park to the south, survive. The wooded walks, which lie south of the deer park wall, remain in good condition, although the views out to the south across the Churnet Valley to Alton, Alton Abbey and the countryside beyond are now largely obscured by dense, mature trees. The walks are terraced and retained with stone walls, and run for over 2km from west of Alton Towers, passing beneath the Flag Tower (listed grade II), a substantial four-storey crenellated stone tower c 250m south-west of Alton Towers. They then pass through Abbey Wood to the south of the house, continuing east of the main valley garden as Rock Walk and Park Banks. The walks pass several massive sandstone outcrops, several of which have C19 structures associated with them. Cuckoo Rock, at the east end of Abbey Wood, forms a major viewpoint. Beneath it is an arch and trilithon-type structure, the remains of a seat.

Ina's Rock, towards the east end of the walks, also has a seat beneath it, a small cave with a stone-flagged floor. Early C19 plaques were inset into the sandstone to either side; that to the east survives, and records the distance from the Rock to the house. KITCHEN GARDEN The kitchen garden lay north-east of the Ingestre Courtyard. It was removed before the 1990s. The mid C19 stone gardener's house stands c 100m north of the Conservatory.

REFERENCES J C Loudon, Encyclopaedia of Gardening (1822 edn), pp 327-35 Country Life, 3 (18 June 1898), pp 754-7; (25 June 1898), pp 788-91; 10 (28 December 1901), pp 838-9; 127 (2 June 1960), pp 1246-9; (9 June 1960), p 1305 R Sidwell, West Midland Gardens (1981), pp 161-5 M Batey and D Lambert, The English Garden Tour (1990), pp 270-5 M J Fisher, Alton Towers Past and Present (1997) Archival items Design for Quixhill entrance by J B Papworth, 1822 (at Alton Towers) Description written: 1997 Register Inspector: PAS Edited: September 1999 Selected Sources Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details National Grid Reference

: SK 07909 43048 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017.

All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2017. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. Use of this data is subject to Terms and Conditions . The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1000191 .pdf The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 19-Jan-2017 at 09:31:59.

End of official listing Alton Towers Smiler crash victim Leah Washington has her leg amputated | Daily Mail Online Share 10k shares He said: 'I will be meeting with the solicitors acting for Merlin and its insurers this week to discuss the early release of money to assist with financial hardship and rehabilitation.' It came after Staffordshire-based Alton Towers, which reopened to the public yesterday morning, released a statement confirming it took 'full responsibility' for the rollercoaster crash. A park spokesman said: 'Over the course of the weekend we have written again to all of the 16 people involved or to their families. These letters were all hand delivered by Alton Towers representatives. 'Irrespective of the outcome of the current investigations into the causes of the accident, in these letters we have accepted full responsibility to those who had been injured in the accident and confirmed that we will ensure that compensation will be provided to them.

'We have recommended each of the injured guests or their families instruct a lawyer and submit a claim for compensation which we will ensure is dealt with swiftly and sensitively.' Leah, left, was on a first date with her new boyfriend Joe Pugh, right, when the accident happened Leah - pictured with TOWIE star Joey Essex - is a huge One Direction fan and missed a concert on Saturday Witnesses said Leah was given a blood transfusion and morphine at the scene of the crash last Tuesday Daniel Thorpe (left) and his friend Vicky Balch (right) were also seriously injured in the crash last Tuesday Leah Washington's friend Alex Ashmore (pictured) said she would not let her injury hold her back One Direction's Louis Tomlinson tweeted his support last night as news of Leah's leg amputation emerged News of compensation claims came after it emerged that teenager Leah had undergone extensive surgery to amputate her left leg at Royal Stoke University Hospital. She is now described as being in a 'serious but stable' condition.

Her father David Washington said: 'Leah has suffered a life-changing injury and now has many months of rehabilitation ahead of her.' Another rider on the carriage which crashed said Leah was given a blood transfusion and morphine while she was trapped and passed out before being freed after four hours. Leah's father said that her family had released details of her injuries 'to put people's minds at rest' and added: 'We would like to thank all the emergency services at the scene and all the hospital staff who saved Leah's life. 'We would like to thank our family and friends and all the well-wishers for their support.' LAWYER WHO SECURED RECORD £23MILLION PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM IS WORKING WITH VICTIMS Lawyer Paul Paxton won a £23million pay-out for Agnes Collier, who was paraylsed in a car crash which killed her mother Karen (pictured) in 2009 The lawyer working with three of the most seriously injured Alton Towers crash victims is known for securing multi-million pound pay-outs and landed the record claim in Britain.

Paul Paxton, the head of personal injury at Stewarts Law, won a £23million pay-out at the High Court for schoolgirl Agnes Collier. Agnes was left paralysed after suffering catastrophic spinal injuries when her family's car was forced into the path of a lorry in March 2009. She was just 13 at the time of the collision, which also killed her mother Karen Hood. BMW executive Anthony Norton pulled out of a side road, causing Mrs Hood's car to be hit by a lorry on the A436 in Gloucestershire. Norton, 48, pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention and was given a six months' suspended prison sentence, banned from driving for 18 months and sentenced to 300 hours' unpaid community work. Mr Paxton, who specialises in complex and catastrophic brain and spinal cord injury claims, represented the family throughout their personal injury claim and secured the record payment in November 2012. Agnes received a £7.25million lump sum, and will also receive £270,000 a year to cover the costs of her care for the rest of her life.

It is the highest ever personal injury claim awarded in Britain, beating the previous record of £13.5million awarded to former Commonwealth Games cyclist Manny Helmot in 2010. Mr Helmot rode for Guernsey in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games, but in November of that year was struck by a car while training on the Channel Island. He permanently lost the use of his right arm, as well as being registered blind and needing 24-hour care. Her friend Alex Ashmore last night said she would not let her life-changing injuries hold her back. He told ITV News : 'I think Leah's quite motivational. Nothing will stop her. 'Injuries like that you think they're not going to be able to do anything in life, but I think that's wrong. 'She's got lots to live for. She's looking at unis, she's turning 18 - she's got all sorts going off in her life and I don't think this incident will stop her.' One Direction's Louis Tomlinson also tweeted his support to the teenager.

He wrote: 'Thinking about you Leah & hoping you are home in South Yorkshire soon Xx' His message came after friend Sara Stuart posted a message describing how Leah is a huge One Direction fan and missed seeing them at Capital's Summertime Ball on Saturday. Sara said: 'As any Directioner would understand, this was a big deal to her and she was so upset. 'She has seen them on so many occasions and her hospital room is full of posters of them!' Sara's message, which has since been shared nearly 6,000 times, pleaded with the band to contact or visit Leah. Leah's boyfriend, Joe Pugh, an 18-year-old textile design student at Huddersfield University, is said to be in a stable condition after suffering two broken knees and extensive hand injuries. Simon Pugh, Joe's father, said: 'I would like to thank our friends and family for their support. 'We would also like to thank the staff at the hospital who have been very accommodating, have been lovely to us and have protected our privacy.

'We would ask people to respect Joe's privacy now and over the weeks and months ahead.' The condition of Miss Balch - who was also seriously injured along with her friend Mr Thorpe - was also described as 'serious but stable', although no further details of her injuries were released. A statement by Stewarts Law, the firm representing her family, said: 'Victoria, who is at university studying international spa management, is still undergoing surgery, further to significant leg injuries but her condition is not life-threatening. 'This is certainly not how she intended to celebrate her 20th birthday. The family remain grateful for the stream of good wishes.' A spokesman for Coventry hospital, where 27-year-old hotel assistant manager Mr Thorpe is being treated, described his condition as 'stable'. The extent of his injuries are not known. Alton Towers said it was 'deeply saddened' by the news of Leah's condition, adding that it will 'provide full support to all of those involved now, and throughout their recovery and rehabilitation'. Another passenger on the ride reportedly had surgery to her stomach after suffering internal bleeding in the crash.

Chanda Singh, 49, from Wednesbury, West Midlands, was sitting in the second row of The Smiler with her daughters Meera, 26, and Vanisha, 29. Meera said the family returned home in a taxi after the crash before going to Manor Hospital in Walsall, where her mother had surgery to her stomach and is receiving treatment for a damaged liver and blood clots. The park reopened to the public yesterday after shutting its gates following the crash, but many visitors described it as a 'ghost town'. Owners refused to compare entry numbers with days before the accident. Visitors began entering the theme park - which had been closed since Tuesday - from 10am yesterday morning, as the chief executive of the park's owner, Merlin Entertainments, insisted it is committed to ensuring people can visit again 'with confidence'. The X-Sector of Alton Towers - which houses The Smiler - will remain closed until further notice to allow the Health and Safety Executive access to the ride for investigations.

The park reopened to the public yesterday, with owners saying 'several thousand' people had entered Visitors to the attraction yesterday described it as a 'ghost town', saying they had never seen it so quiet Others said they had visited because they believed it would be the safest day to go to the theme park Nemesis - one of the park's main rides (pictured) which has an average waiting time of half an hour - was reporting no queue at 3pm yesterday afternoon Queuing times for rides yesterday were significantly down as the park saw fewer than average visitors The Spinball ride is also closed at the Staffordshire theme park until enhanced safety protocols have been implemented, but Merlin Entertainments said this would take slightly longer than it had hoped due to the design of the ride. Two rides at other Merlin Entertainments parks, Thorpe Park, and Chessington World of Adventures - both in Surrey - will also remain closed until new safety protocols can be implemented. But these are expected to reopen soon. We have accepted full responsibility to those injured in the accident and we will ensure that compensation will be provided to them.

We have recommended each of the injured guests or their families instruct a lawyer Alton Towers Daniel Proctor, 30, from Newport, Wales, said: 'I've been to Alton Towers six or seven times before, all outside of the usual busy periods, but I've never known it this quiet. 'It's like a ghost town. It's great in a way because we've been able to go on loads of the rides without the normal queues but I think it's inevitable lots of people have been put off coming because of last week's crash. 'It hasn't put me off though, I bought my ticket a while ago and as soon as I heard the park was going to be open I bombed straight up the motorway to get in early.' Nemesis - one of the park's main rides which has an average waiting time of half an hour - was reporting no queue at 3pm yesterday afternoon. Among those entering Alton Towers yesterday were Nina Lancaster and Daniella Dobson, who brought their 15-year-old daughters along because they 'thought it would be the safest day'. Mrs Lancaster said they had booked the trip about a month ago while their children had a day off school in Leeds, and were determined to go.

'We wanted to come, and the girls were really excited when they found out yesterday that it would open today,' she said. It took four hours for rescuers to remove all of those injured, who were trapped 25 feet from the ground Mrs Dobson said she was more cautious about going, but took the view safety precautions would be at their highest yesterday of all days. 'We didn't want to let the children down,' she added. Asked what rides they would be heading to first, Mrs Lancaster said she did not know but on the journey down told daughter Sophie and Daniella's daughter Jo 'they can't go on the front or the back'. Paddy O'Shaughnessy, Tanya Wolff, Gareth Mcgahan and Christine Hopkin, from Nottingham, had all taken a day off work to spend time at the park. Mr O'Shaughnessy said: 'It was this, or Skegness. We were gutted when they first closed it. It's a shame what happened, but it hasn't put us off.' Sixteen people were injured on The Smiler ride when the carriage they were in collided with another which had come to a halt on the track.

One man who was on the ride when it crashed described the moment he 'held on for dear life' as the carriages collided, before he saw blood dripping from an injured woman in front of him. The man, who gave his name only as Oli, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, told Heart North West radio station: 'As we came round the corner we probably only had a second or two to see it. 'Obviously we all just screamed and held on for dear life as we hit the back of it. We moved forwards and backwards with the force until we came to a stop at 45 degrees. 'It was a severe jolt. The people in front where they hit it were obviously in quite a lot of pain so they were screaming. A lot of people were coming to the side of the barrier and the people in front were screaming 'Get some help, get some help'. The ride had been closed earlier in the day and test carriages were sent out to see if the ride was working The crash involved 16 people - four of whom were seriously injured and airlifted to hospital He added: 'There was a lot of blood coming from the carriage in front. It was dripping all over the floor.

There was quite a lot of blood coming from them. 'I thought (it was) the guy in front of me. I saw at some point he had cut his face, but it was actually coming from the girl next to him who had the severely damaged leg.' Merlin is thought to have racked up losses of around £500,000 a day since the incident and it has also faced accusations that staff dithered for 10 minutes before making the first 999 call, despite screams of distress from bloodied passengers on board The Smiler. Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said the incident was a 'terrible event' for everyone involved. He said: 'We are very aware of the impact it will have on those involved and we are doing all we can to provide our support to those injured and their families.' The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has removed the carriages involved in the crash and taken them to the Health and Safety Laboratory in Buxton for further analysis.

A Merlin Entertainments spokesman said: 'We never discuss visitor figures but what we can say is that the decision to re-open was made at 5.30pm last night and we have several thousand people in the park. 'Not everyone can drop everything on a weekday and we are very happy with the response.' Undeterred: (Left to right) Paddy O'Shaughnessy, Tanya Wolff, Gareth McGahan and Christine Hopkin said they had not been put off by the crash as they entered the newly-reopened park yesterday morning Read more: Why did it take 11 minutes for Alton Towers to phone emergency services? | Daily Mail Online Share this article Share Since the horrific incident a petition has been launched calling for the ride to be shut down. The petition was created on Change.org two days ago and states the ride should be 'condemned and ripped down because it is a death trap.' So far it has received 207 signatures. The Mirror reported that Alton Towers bosses are now considering permanently closing the ride down - something a theme park spokesman dismissed as 'pure speculation'. The paper claims senior management are thinking about closing the ride for good following the crash.

Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, which runs the resort, wrote in The Sun on Thursday: 'At this point I don't know if it was a technological or a human error. 'We want to know if this issue is isolated to The Smiler. We can't open again until we're sure.' Mr Varney, who described himself as 'shell-shocked' following the accident, did not say when the park will re-open. Vicky Balch, 19, is being treated in hospital after the carriage she was riding on crashed into another car How the crash unfolded: The carriage with 16 people in it smashed into an empty 'test carriage' at the park THE SMILER GAME: WHERE PLAYERS TRY TO PREVENT RIDE FROM CRASHING It has emerged that the Alton Towers Resort has created a game in which players have to prevent The Smiler rollercoaster from crashing. The game, which is free to download on the app store, has now been pulled by bosses following Tuesday's horror smash. The Smiler game - where players have to prevent the rollercoaster from crashing off the tracks In it players had to prevent the carriage from crashing as it hangs over the edge of the tracks.

A description of the game on Apple's App Store said: 'Control the ride cars around the twisted metal of the roller coaster in as perfect line as possible, while navigating through the body and mind marmalising features of the ride.' Gamers must earn points to then upgrade the ride to make it faster and 'more intense'. An Alton Towers spokesman said: 'The Smiler game was launched in 2013, however in light of recent events it will no longer be available to download.' Alton Towers have now confirmed they are going to remove the game from the app store following the crash A spokesman for The Izaak Walton Hotel in Ashbourne, Derbyshire where Mr Thorpe is assistant manager, said he was a 'great guy' and staff 'send him our very best wishes for a speedy recovery'. In a now deleted Facebook post his father, Martin Thorpe, revealed that Daniel has a fractured leg and a collapsed lung. Miss Balch is believed to be from Leyland, Lancashire, but lives in Buxton, Derbyshire. One neighbour on the quiet housing estate where Mr Thorpe lives with his parents Sue and Martin, said: 'I heard Daniel was one of the people badly injured on the Alton Towers ride.

'From what I heard he's in a really bad condition. His parents left on Tuesday and I haven't seen them since. They've gone to be by his bedside in one of the hospitals near the theme park. 'They're a nice family - everyone's thoughts are with them. It's terrible what's happened. I don't understand how they didn't spot that another carriage was on the rails of that ride.' The identities of the other pair seriously hurt emerged hours after MailOnline revealed there was a delay before the fire service were called to the scene. But Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were not notified until 2.41pm, some 32 minutes after the crash happened. It is understood they were only contacted after paramedics arrived at the scene and were asked where the fire engines were. The delay is believed to be due to West Midlands Ambulance Service not immediately contacting the other emergency services. Staffordshire Police were not called until 2.45pm - 36 minutes after the carriage collided with a stationary cart on a 25ft-high section of the £18million ride's track.

A rescue team at the park led the efforts to reach the stricken carriage, which hung at a 45 degree angle, until fire crews arrived. The ordeal for some of the occupants lasted more than four hours, with the evacuation not complete until 6.35pm. West Midlands Ambulance Service insists the delay in contacting the fire service had no impact on the treatment of those injured as rescue teams based at Alton Towers took part in the early stages of the rescue. A spokesman said: 'Our initial debrief shows that Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service should have been called earlier but this did not cause any delay to the speed of treatment provided to the patients on the ride. 'When we arrived, the theme park's own rescue staff were already constructing an access platform that was used by ambulance and fire service staff to reach the patients. Emergency services at the scene. It is understood police and fire crews were not told until half an hour after staff at the theme park made the initial 999 call 'This was always going to be a complex rescue due to working 25 feet off the ground and at an angle.

Our priority was to ensure that the patients' conditions were stable before they were removed from the ride and that their injuries were not exacerbated. 'The joint working ensured the patients got the best treatment from specialist trauma clinicians as quickly as possible.' Alton Towers remained closed for the second day yesterday, as investigators continue to try to find out what caused the crash. It will also remain closed today, bosses announced. A park spokesman said: 'Our community first responders, based on site at Alton Towers, are trained by West Midlands Ambulance Service and form part of our security and medical teams. 'Once the incident occurred, a member of the ride staff would have called our first responders who arrived at the scene within minutes. After instant assessment they then call our security department who then call 999 straight away.' The spokesman added: 'We have a highly trained aerial evacuation team on site that was mobilised to assist with The Smiler incident. This consists of 29 people.' Witnesses said Mr Pugh broke both of his legs while Leah was given a blood transfusion and morphine before she passed out following the collision. They are both believed to be still undergoing treatment at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Mr Pugh, who is with his parents Simon and Julie, tweeted this morning, saying: 'So overwhelmed with the response I've had from my accident at Alton Towers, Thank you for everyone's concern.' A source at the park has said that one of those seriously injured has lost a leg. Live footage from the scene showed the complicated rescue operation used to free those on board Among those on board was Vanisha Singh, 29, who was in the second row of the carriage with her mother Chanda, 49, and her sister Meera, 26. She told The Sun there had been 'technical difficulties' moments before they embarked on the ride, as several test cars were sent ahead of them. 'We finally went up and were kept at the top for ten or 15 minutes chatting, joking that we were the guinea pigs,' she said. Describing the crash, she added: 'The metal safety bar smashed into our legs. There was loads of screaming. I felt a burning sensation in my pelvis, and back and neck pain. It was terrifying.' The owner of Alton Towers is estimated to have racked up just under £1.5million in lost revenue over the three days since the crash.

Analysts estimate that every day the 500-acre theme park in Staffordshire remains closed costs parent group Merlin Entertainments a little under £500,000. Shares in Merlin have fallen just over 2.6 per cent since the accident happened on Tuesday, wiping around £100million off its stock market value. The park remains closed today. A spokesman said: 'Anybody with pre-booked tickets for Alton Towers tomorrow will be able to visit Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Warwick Castle or Legoland Windsor as an alternative.' Read more:

Question: In which county is Alton Towers?
Answer: Staffordshire