Autumn 2018 Newsletter
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Registered Charity No. 298861 GARD The Kent Gardens Trust T E N N E S K T Newsletter R UST Working for Kent’s Garden Heritage Issue 45 www.kentgardenstrust.org.uk Autumn 2018 Rosemay Dymond describes... From the Editor Repton’s Peep Show Hugh Vaux 2018 has been the year of Repton, yet it is surprising how many people have never heard of him. The bicentenary of the death of the self-proclaimed successor to Capability Brown has been commemorated all over the country by individual county garden trusts and our parent body, The Gardens Trust. Kent has played its part with lectures and a study day at Cobham as well as joining Sussex Gardens Trust for their very interesting and enjoyable day at Brightling. In addition, KGT have published another book, ‘Humphry Repton in Kent’, a companion volume to ‘Capability Brown Cobham Hall from the south. in Kent’ which appeared two years Continued on page 2 Today Cobham Hall performed its artistic magic. Silhouetted against the brilliant blue sky of a perfect autumn day and basking in the warmth of the glorious In this edition Page sunshine it is no wonder that Humphry Repton returned here time and again. Repton’s Peep Show 1 Repeated visits were made to readjust and extend his vision for the landscape Humphrey Repton and the Art of within which sits this statuesque building. Landscape 2 Guests sat in comfort amidst the bookshelves of the C17th library, the very room The Restoration of Cobham 3 where Repton had his meetings with the 4th Earl of Darnley. There was the Earl’s The Spirit of Repton at Cobham 3 & 5 portrait over the fireplace; it only needed Repton himself to appear to complete Spring lecture by John Phibbs 4 the picture. Hever Castle and Stone Wall Park Gardens 4 The morning of talks on Repton, the past and present development of his C19th vision was a fascinating and absorbing time, interspersed with an opportunity Edwardian Elegance on the North Downs 5 to view copies of the Red Book and the interesting history of the development Brightling Study Day 6 of his plans. A delicious and robust lunch fuelled everyone for the afternoon series of walks around the Repton grounds and the challenge of a one mile trek Walmer Castle and Grounds 6 to the Mausoleum. Here was a building few had experienced before, but thanks Repton at Brightling Park 7 to the expert knowledge of the National Trust volunteer guides no stone was More on Repton 7 & 8 left unturned. All marvelled at its massive size which prints and plans had not Stone Pitts Manor, Seal and St Clere 8 revealed. The empty catacombs below were eerie and the altar of black marble Ruins, reclaimation and reformation 9 (from southwestern Belgium) glistened in the alcove. Standing on the centre The Garden Party 9 stone of the floor, voices echoed in each direction providing a most Colour in the Marshes 10 unnerving experience. Hidden Gardens 10 We returned to the grounds of Cobham Hall and to the garden tours led by the Book review 11 equally expert garden guides. Guests walked excitedly between Repton designs. Dover Project 12 From the western bastion to the restored pump house, from Reptons ponds to Humphry Repton in Kent 12 the ancient lime trees. Views of elderly oaks led to Repton’s Seat from where Continued on page 2 © Kent Gardens Trust Kent Gardens Trust - Working for Kent’s Garden Heritage 1 © Kent Gardens Trust The Kent Gardens Trust Newsletter A summary of Professor Stephen Daniels’ keynote talk on… renewed with shrubs of colour and perfume which Repton ‘From the Editors’ continued from page 1 would have recognized, at the same time leaving space to The Spirit of attend to the historic wall against which the border lies. To ago. In exploring Repton’s work, the reduce labour, the modern technique of planting through research group members have unearthed Humphrey Repton and Landscape fabric and mulching with gravel was adopted. new facts about the sites as well as the Humphry Repton whereabouts of the Red Books. As most The western bastion leads to Repton’s ‘North Pleasure of the landscapes no longer exist in their the Art of Landscape. Ground’ on which so much effort has been expended with earlier form, this research is important to architectural features to be maintained and the ancient preserve the paper trail which still exists at Cobham. trees requiring extensive winter care. Repton deer fencing before that too is lost. From the start of his talk, Prof. Daniel’s has been restored only in places, leaving a burgeoning The researchers have also been immense enthusiasm for all things A summary of Sarah Morgan’s talk. population of deer in the grounds and a problem to any investigating parks and gardens in and Repton was immediately apparent. He new planting. Sarah described the problems of trying to manage a around Dover. Cilla Freud gives us an has found that this year of celebration To the south of the house, yew hedges planted after Repton’s significant Repton landscape which, like all landscapes, account of their hard work and the has continually provoked fresh time obscured the long view to the south borders. The changes over time. How much should you try to reflect reports which are being added to the thoughts and finding new Red Books decision to remove them has opened up the view of the Humphry Repton in the gardens when successive members KGT website. Don’t forget that they are has led to new interpretations. Hall from the south. It has also opened up the view from of the Darnley family have drawn upon other styles and there, easily accessible and a mine of the house to the south lawn bordered by large clipped Repton lived through his art rather influences since Repton’s time? This is only one aspect of information. mounds of shrubs that meander to Wyatts dairy, currently than on the ground and in contrast to managing the gardens and grounds today with only three The trustees are very grateful to all those undergoing restoration into a holiday let. The reduced Capability Brown, his legacy is on the gardeners and ever-increasing costs, quite apart from the who have taken part in these activities annual maintenance costs from removing the yew hedges is pages of his writings. These contain a fact that Cobham Hall is a school with the grounds being and who give so much time to making Sarah Morgan with Elizabeth Cairns and a secondary bonus. The fountain to the south of the house no surprising amount of autobiographical used for facilities and events. A balance between past and them so successful. The same thanks go Stephen Daniels in the library at longer works but care has been taken to protect the masonry detail and reflect what he felt about present has to be reached. to those who organize the numerous Cobham Hall. for possible future restoration. In the meantime, the water events, many of which are described in landscape, that it should be lived in and enjoyed. Life in its widest sense, and peep shows could be used as a has been replaced with free draining soil planted with low- the newsletter. Members of KGT are able growing alpines and bulbs with blue grasses to mimic the to enjoy these events thanks both to them from the appreciation of beauty to resource; Sir Walter Scott describing effect of jets of water. and to the various owners who so kindly the domesticity of family life, was all the Red Book as miniature theatre. important. Repton had a large family The long borders running along the south wall of the house allow us to visit their parks and gardens. With the publication of ‘Observations We are especially grateful to Lady to support and it was essential to have been completely replanted after the filming of ‘Tulip on the Theory and Practice of Kingsdown, our president, for allowing succeed financially so the Red fever’ converted the length into an Amsterdam canal. This Landscape Gardening’ (1803), Repton us to hold the garden party at Torry Hill Books were not just for his patrons gave opportunity to use some of the revenue from the showed that study of science was on the most glorious summer’s day. but also an advertising technique, filming to put back soft rhythms of planting along the length essential for those of serious learning The dreaded words General Data brand Repton. incorporating such plants as scented roses, Clerodendron , in contrast to the frivolity of the Pittosporum tobira and Daphne. Protection Regulation (GDPR) appear He took time to bring his skills to picturesque. Finally, in ‘Fragments’ elsewhere in the newsletter, suffice it maturity. Some early work was carried (1816), he looked back on his career In the west court, Humphry Repton has had to compete to say here that privacy and security out in conjunction with John Nash for in elegiac mood, regretting his decline with William Goldring’s design of 1904 and Jane Ward’s concern all of us. a competition for a rebuild in Bath and, as he saw it, that of his profession; 1998 addition of box hedging. This compromise reflects the which in the end came to nothing. despite this being the time of two of ongoing problems of presenting Cobham Hall in the 21st Repton’s Peep Show continued from page 1 At Cobham, water-colours by George his greatest creations, Endsleigh and century, to look its best the whole year round while keeping a you could see the Mausoleum in the Samuels were included in the Sheringham Park.