GTNEWS 12 Spring 2020

Research • Conserve • Campaign

Front cover image: Found object sculpture in the at Prospect Cottage c.1990 © Howard Sooley. Once again The Garden Museum has kindly provided us with a cover image to celebrate their early summer exhibition and our joint lecture there, to be given by Michael Charlesworth, GT see pp.32 & 39. NEWS 12 Spring 2020

Join Us If you or someone you know is not a member, please join us! Contents Your support is vital to helping the Trust to protect and David Marsh at the back of his 4 campaign for historic designed landscapes. Benefits include News and Campaigns GT News, our journal Garden Unforgettable gardens celebration 5 History, and access to exclusive Our Business Plan for 2020 5 member events. A special rate is Sharing Repton: a few final thoughts 7 available to County Garden Trust Essay Prize and New Research Symposium 10 Volunteer of the Year Award 11 members. Join today at: Garden History Grapevine courses 12 thegardenstrust.org/support-us/ From our contributors Glasshouses at Risk, Tatton Park 14 Painshill joins Wörlitz 16 The Petersfield Physic Garden 17 Repton watercolour of Rivenhall Place 18 The ‘real’ Secret Garden 19 Researching Hunsdonbury 20 Picturesque landscapes around the Clyde 22 The Vale of Aylesbury and Rex Whistler 26 www.thegardenstrust.org In memoriam Peter Hayden 28 The Gardens Trust head office: 70 Cowcross Street, Ray Desmond 29 London EC1M 6EJ Bill Tomlins 29 phone: 020 7608 2409 Peter Lindesay 30 general email: [email protected] Company number: 03163187 other events & news in brief 31 Registered Charity number: 1053446 GT Events 37 Annual Conference, New Research Symposium and Annual General Meeting 2020 42 Copy deadline for Summer 2020 Copy deadline for Summer issue 13 We’re looking for new Volunteers 45 1 June 2020 for distribution Officers 46 in July 2020 Events Diary 47 David Marsh at the back of his shed ’ve been plotting out the next weavers to act as Ifew months on the blog, and haymakers in a kind looking for subjects that have of human zoo, so that proved popular both with readers she could watch them but equally importantly with me “from the east window to research and write. One thread in the eating room … which always seem to go down well [making] the prettiest is eccentricity, and I sometimes perspective scene wonder whether to be a great imaginable… I love gardener or design a great garden to see that they eat actually requires more than just a as well as labour, and Detail from ‘The Montagu Family at Sandleford Priory’, streak of quirkiness. Whether it’s often send a treat.” Berkshire, by Edward Haytley, 1744. on a grand scale like Frank Crisp At times the quest to at Friar Park, or Charles Isham do something different at Lamport or on a smaller scale almost becomes a George Durant who built a giant competition to see Egyptian pyramid for his poultry, who can do the daftest there’s something refreshingly sounding things and light-hearted about taking succeed rather than conventions and pushing them in a becoming a laughing new direction or to their limits. stock. Surely top of That could mean pushing the the list for that must planting limits as at Abbotsbury, be Sir John Soane with its subtropical look and who created a set of feel. It could mean playing with archaeological ruins ‘traditional’ planting style as in in the grounds of Birds eye view of Pitzhanger, the ruins on the right, 1832. the new Collector Earl’s garden at his country house at Arundel where the tulips take on Pitzhanger which he then buried contender in this area must surely a life of their own, the stumpery for future generations to excavate? be Robert Gauen an early-19th- is exotic and the Even though they were largely century Southampton nurseryman. and stage effects of features like swept away by later owners it was In an age of innovation — the floating crown — a wonderful probably more successful than mowers, hosepipe and the take on the Jacobean inspiration the creation of a concrete Never- Wardian case — he invented behind the whole thing. What Never land in the cliffside public two of the most impractical [and are Biddulph Grange and gardens at Southend, now sadly to our eyes probably the most Northumberlandia if not master vandalised ruins waiting for the pointless] gadgets imaginable. classes in eccentricity? And if local council to find the money to But I can’t help loving his obvious they don’t grab your attention sweep them away. enthusiasm. who could resist Lady Dorothy In the intellectual eccentric If you don’t know what I’m Nevill’s orchestra of pigeons stakes I wondered about awarding talking about just go to the Blog at Dangstein? Or maybe you the top spot to George Glenny and do a quick word search on prefer the mechanical elephants with his regulations for dahlias any or all of them and be amazed. at Morecambe or the man so and other florists flowers, which And finally I’m on the lookout for obsessed with tomatoes that he despite running contrary to what even more eccentricities to amuse grows over 600 varieties in a one might imagine to be the laws myself, and hopefully the Blog’s historic walled garden in France? of nature actually succeeded in readership too so if you can think How about the ‘bluestocking’ altering the world’s view of how of any get in touch: gardener who took on unemployed flowers should look. The other [email protected]

4 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 news & Our Business Plan for 2020 his time last year I reported campaigns Ton the adoption of a revised Gardens Trust Business Plan. The plan has to be reviewed every year, and the review for 2020 took place at December’s Board meeting. The agreed objectives set for 2020 are: • To build on the campaign launched in 2019 to attract new members and to encourage members of County Garden Trusts (CGT) to become individual members of the Trust; • To publicise the work of the Trust to landscape architects, garden designers, and other professional bodies concerned with garden and landscape history and conservation to It’s time to be Unforgettable! seek to enlarge and widen the membership of the Trust; rom 2020 to 2022 the Gardens under threat, write the story of • To build up a database of the FTrust will be celebrating a lost garden that will never be contact details of all members, Unforgettable Gardens – what forgotten, host an exhibition of of CGT members, and of other they mean to us, the threats they old garden photographs, offer a interested bodies who wish to face, and how you can help save memorable outing for families to receive information from the Trust; them for future generations. a public park they may not have • To give greater prominence to Historic parks and gardens visited before, or put together a the work of the Trust as statutory are a much-loved part of our volunteer group to help look after consultee in relation to planning shared national story, but these your local threatened landscape. applications affecting the unforgettable gardens are at The Unforgettable Gardens landscape, to work with County risk. Gardens and landscapes celebration is what you make it! Garden Trusts in responding to have always been vulnerable to As this collaborative celebration such applications, to bring to the destruction through neglect, starts to take shape, we are hosting attention of planning authorities development or mis-management. a brainstorm at The Gallery, 70 their duty to notify the Trust of Now these precious treasures are Cowcross Street in London from relevant applications, and to seek to more at risk than ever, as austerity 1.30 to 4.30pm on Thursday 16 ensure that this duty is carried out; leads to maintenance cuts and April (see p.38) for anyone who • To work with the Royal pressures on land for housing is interested in getting involved Horticultural Society, Lindley increase. The Gardens Trust is on a and would like to discuss their Library on a joint venture under mission to rescue them. ideas or possibilities. Please email: the title ‘Unforgettable Gardens’. There is a myriad of ways you [email protected] It will focus on gardens and could contribute. For example, to book your place. landscapes that have been lost or you could organise an event More details on our website: are at risk, the work that is being that highlights a phenomenal thegardenstrust.org/campaigns/ done by the Trust and County but vulnerable garden, support You can also follow what Gardens Trusts to protect them, your County Gardens Trust is happening on Twitter: and the ways in which people in conserving local landscapes #unforgettablegardens. can get involved in this work.

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 5 news and campaigns

The venture will be launched in we will be launching in 2020 and run through to 2022; conjunction with the Royal • To make an application to Horticultural Society’s the National Lottery Heritage Lindley Library. Fund for financial support for We must increase our an audience development and membership and widen our capacity building project to membership basis. It is not complement our ‘Unforgettable just a matter of encouraging Gardens’ celebration; members of County Garden • To support Historic England’s Trusts to become individual Heritage Information Access members of the Gardens programme by the provision of Trust, although this is an training for County Gardens essential objective. We need Trusts and the OASIS project, an to reach out more widely on-line reporting system for the to attract new members; recording of heritage investigations professional and non- as and when reporting forms for professional people who have an the project become available. interest in garden and landscape We hope that members of This will complement the Trust’s conservation and history, County Gardens Trust will want to support for Parks and Gardens including garden designers, join us to support our work. At the UK and the Hestercombe Trust’s landscape architects and others special rate of £25 p.a. for a single CMP Archive; working in the conservation field. or joint membership, it equates, • To plan for the provision in 2020 A larger and broader membership for a couple, to just 25p per week of training sessions for garden will not only enhance our profile each. That can’t be bad and it is a and landscape professionals and and add to our voice and influence, small price to pay to support the other interested parties as part of it will, also, strengthen our valuable work that we do. our HLP initiative. applications for public funds and Peter Hughes, • To develop partnership lottery grants to provide financial GT Board member opportunities to work with support for the work that we do potential sponsors to provide in fields such as conservation, educational and archival education, and training. Volunteer for the workshops and other activities. We are delighted to have the Gardens Trust • For Board members and GT opportunity to work with the officers to attend Chairman’s Lindley Library on ‘Unforgettable f you might have an interest Meet-Ups and to visit as many Gardens’. The title is deliberately Iin further supporting the CGTs as possible to strengthen chosen to be open to different work of the Gardens Trust by the close working relationship interpretations. It can refer, for volunteering to help, we would between the GT and the CGTs, example, to gardens that have been love to hear from you. and to inform members of the lost, but should not be forgotten, This need not be time work of the Trust and how they gardens that are at risk and need consuming, the amount of can support it, in particular by support if they are to survive, and time you spend will be up to joining as members; gardens that have qualities that are, you. We can always use help in • To identify and plan for projects literally, unforgettable and must be our communications efforts, or events for 2021 onwards. conserved for future generations. organising events in different This is a full and challenging The project will be launched parts of the country, or indeed programme. I would like to this year and will run through worldwide, tracking our draw attention to two of our 2021 and 2022 with a number of planning successes or developing aims. The first is the drive to different initiatives, linked to the news stories. attract new members and to theme of ‘Unforgettable Gardens’. If you would like to learn achieve a meaningful increase As part of it we hope to be more, please contact our in our membership. The second successful in an application to the Administrator, Louise Cooper: is the exciting new venture National Lottery Heritage Fund [email protected] ‘Unforgettable Gardens’, which for financial support.

6 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Sharing Repton Sharing Repton: a few final thoughts

s our audience development Aproject ‘Sharing Repton : Historic Landscapes for All’ draws to a close, it seems fitting to take a look back at its exhilarating two years. In Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, Humphry Repton urged “For the honour of the Country, let the Parks and Pleasure-grounds of England be ever open, to cheer the hearts and delight the eyes of all, who Some of the ‘Repton Buddies’, celebrating their project. have taste to enjoy the beauties of Nature.” Inspired by this, the Buddies’. Sharing Repton simply measuring and spotting designed Gardens Trust was awarded a couldn’t have happened without views, but my favourite moment grant from the National Lottery this superb team of pioneers, and from the day was being politely Heritage Fund to help engage new the Gardens Trust would like to admonished by a father, originally and diverse people with historic extend them its sincere thanks. from Afghanistan, for offering him parks and gardens through its coffee during the introductory talk Sharing Repton project. Linden Groves, whilst he was trying to find out Sharing Repton was based the Gardens about Humphry Repton. on piloting five simple activities to engage new supporters with Trust’s Strategic historic parks and gardens and Development Officer, then share the learning amongst takes a look back volunteers and professionals so that we can all benefit from being at our project to more inclusive in future. This broaden interest in outward-looking approach is historic parks and essential if garden history is to be valued and our park and gardens gardens conserved by future generations. All of the host landscapes had In September 2018 we kicked been designed by Repton and are off with the first activity, a visit to now open to the public, and we Wicksteed Park for families from were fortunate to work with local a nearby multicultural community partners including County Gardens centre with Northamptonshire Trusts. A small gang aiming Gardens Trust, who are passionate high, this group was a warm and about working with varied groups. supportive team, and we quickly Children and adults together, Measuring trees together at nicknamed them the ‘Repton we tackled activities such as tree Wicksteed Park, Northamptonshire

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 7 Sharing Repton

Always going the extra mile, call by. An experience that I can to become the routine with our Northamptonshire Gardens Trust wholeheartedly recommend! Sharing Repton pilots, it far decided to repeat this excursion At Warley Woods in the Black exceeded our expectations, with the in 2019, this time working with Country we ran a research new volunteers not only fulfilling a multicultural group of people and recording project for new all our challenges, but going the living with dementia. volunteers, hiring a professional extra mile so that their simple Our public Open Day took place engagement consultant, Suzanne leaflet became a game-changing the following weekend, at Catton Carter, to give this potentially piece of work that combines serious Park in Norwich. We linked familiar format some fresh ideas. garden history information with with the national Heritage Open Suzanne branded it as the ‘Warley fun activities such as a #viewselfie Day scheme, and local groups Woods Big Red Book Project’, phone photography challenge, the such as the Friends of Catton presenting it as a community ‘Statement of Significance’ began and Norfolk Gardens Trust, and activity to find out more about to be drafted before the training particularly benefited from the Repton at Warley Woods, and was even complete, and the organisational talents of Broadland produce a huge 2019 version of public presentation evolved into District Council’s Tourism the famous Repton Red Book. a huge community open day with Officer, Chloe Griffin. Under her We promised four workshops, hundreds of local guests. Best of all, stewardship, our request for an in ‘reading’ a landscape on the these guys have carried on working open day that would attract sixty ground, using archives, presenting as a group even now the Big Red people from varied cultural and economic backgrounds became an immense extravaganza ultimately entertaining some 600 visitors! I will always remember this day for the conversation I had with an Egyptian born gentleman who had lived only minutes away from Catton Park for many years, but had never come in because he had seen the Lodge House and gates and assumed therefore that it was a private residence still. That conversation was a two- minute masterclass in how cultural assumptions can affect someone’s ability to engage with our heritage, and a reminder to always question the status quo by viewing situations through other eyes. Wondering how much harder it would be for a smaller group Learning about Humphry Repton at Kenwood, before exploring the landscape with fresh eyes. to organise a Heritage Open Day without professional expertise research in a leaflet and ‘Statement Book Project is over, continuing to and budget, in 2019 we linked of Significance’ and sharing their research, and running guided tours the Gardens Trust’s annual Family knowledge through a public for other locals. Picnic with a Heritage Open presentation and these were Perhaps the giggliest part of the Day organised by a small but delivered over many months to Big Red Book Project came out of determined group of volunteers a small group of a dozen adults, Suzanne’s addition of links with from the Friends of Grovelands with the help of Gardens Trust the local primary school, so that we in London. Some posters, an volunteers Gary Webb and Neil found ourselves dashing from the open air exhibition and some McLean, and David Whitehead adult workshops in the morning, children’s games later, and we had from Hereford and Worcester to complementary ones for ninety ourselves 300 friendly park users Gardens Trust. As was starting children aged 10-11 years in the

8 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 afternoon. Through autumn 2018, these children were shown that Warley Woods is not simply a piece of nature but rather the result of a careful design, to read old maps, and how to think about what parts of Warley Woods and its story were important to them. We now look forward to bundling this experience into a schools’ package that others can redeliver to inspire a new generation. In October 2018, London Parks Enjoying the Castle at Blaise, July 2019. & Gardens Trust delivered a super introductory conservation are delighted that many of them the group! Adapting the format workshop at Kenwood for groups are now joining the gardening somewhat, we nevertheless made it of refugees and women originally volunteer groups at both Kenwood up to the castle eye-catcher, where from Bangladesh, thanks largely and Russell Square (as well as being we all had a fantastic time running to their fantastic volunteer, consulted on the new interpretation up and down the castle’s stairs Barbara Deason. The Gardens panels in Russell Square). and peering over its castellated Trust regularly trains volunteers to We were keen to see whether roof. Later, over lunch provided undertake conservation work, but this format could have produced by the Blaise Community Garden with this activity we were eager volunteers for LPGT’s research scheme volunteers, we launched to find a way to engage people and conservation work, had the Garden History Lucky Dip, who hadn’t previously thought of language barriers not been in which props are pulled out of themselves as having an ownership an issue. To test this, Barbara a bag in order to prompt chat stake in our national heritage, mustered herself once more and and the sharing of information, or a role in helping look after we ran a single afternoon of the in an interactive alternative to the it. Echoed by many interpreters same format for people living traditional lecture format. covering the guests’ linguistic close to Repton’s Barn Hill near The Sharing Repton project has rainbow, Emily Parker from Wembley Park in Brent. The been inspiring and reinvigorating English Heritage gave a brief talk result? A small group of new for those of us directly involved, on Repton’s work at Kenwood, research volunteers for LPGT! and it is clear that the Gardens and together we pored over copies The final activity took place Trust and its supporters must of the Red Book. Then we all in July 2019 at Blaise Castle in work with vigour to improve grabbed our umbrellas and went Bristol, with Avon Gardens Trust inclusion within garden history if out on a brief tour of the gardens. and volunteer groups attached the subject is to remain relevant At lunch, our guests surprised us to Blaise. Here we welcomed for generations to come. Success with a sequence of speeches on a coach full of families from a is dependent on continuing how much the day had meant to Somali community group to a the momentum the project has them — a moving experience for day intended to teach them a begun, so the final act of Sharing all of us involved. little about garden history in Repton was to create a stash of To complement the Kenwood a way more fun and accessible free online materials to help you visit, we reconvened in April 2019 than the standard fare of a lecture repeat these pilots and find new at Russell Square, thanks to the and guided tour. This had been supporters in your own areas. support of its Commissioners. On planned as something aimed Perhaps you might like to give this joyous occasion the guests primarily at adults, but in order one of the activities a go as part of were able to plant roses in one of to make it easy to attend we had our new Unforgettable Gardens the beds, important as many of let it be known that children celebration? them had chosen to get involved were welcome also. Imagine our Take a look at our website: in the pilot because of their surprise when in the days before thegardenstrust.org/conservation/ previous horticultural experience the visit we learnt that around 40 hlp-hub/networking-materials/ in their countries of origin. We children would be accompanying sharing-repton-2/

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 9 Essay Prize 2020 & New Research Symposium

ny subject relating to Garden Entries are invited for our AHistory will be considered, for 16th Annual Mavis Batey Essay Prize entries to both our Essay Prize and ur annual essay competition consideration for publication in proposals for the Symposium. Ois open to any student, our peer-reviewed, international For example: explorations of worldwide, registered in a bona- scholarly journal Garden History. little known gardens, or aspects fideuniversity or institute of Submissions, or any further of botany, ecology, horticulture, higher education, or who has enquiries, should be sent to: archaeology, social history, recently graduated from such an [email protected] architecture, design and sculpture. institution. Submissions must be by 6pm on Sunday 3 May 2020. The Closing Date for both 5,000 to 6,000 words. For further details and entry Essay Prize submissions and The prize includes an award of forms see: Symposium proposals is £250, free membership of The thegardenstrust.org/research/prize/ Sunday 3 May 2020. Gardens Trust for a year and Call for Papers for our 10th New Research Symposium at the Richmond Conference Room, Holiday Inn, Darlington, North Yorkshire. 2pm, Saturday 5 September esearchers in all fields Applicants are asked to identify and tea on the symposium day, Rof activity are invited to their status as an independent Saturday 5 September. submit a 200-word proposal researcher and/or member of the Proposals, or any further for a paper whose subject is as Trust and/or a County Gardens enquiries, should be sent to: yet unpublished. The paper will Trust, or their institutional affiliation, newresearchsymposium@ be no longer than 20 minutes the academic programme of study thegardenstrust.org (approximately 2,000 to 2,500 and the award outcome; or both. by 6 pm, Sunday, 3 May 2020. words) and illustrated with a The Gardens Trust will reimburse For further details see: PowerPoint (or similar) image- each speaker £100 for personal thegardenstrust.org/research/ based presentation. expenses and provide lunch symposium/

Mavis Batey Bletchley Codebreaker, Writer, Garden Historian, Conservationist

uthor and Gardens Trust abandoned her studies to do her the reader through the war and Amember Jean Stone has duty for her country. At Bletchley to the arrival of peace, when completed her biography of Mavis Park, Britain’s best and longest Mavis turned her attention from Batey, in honour of whom our long kept secret, she became one of breaking codes to the conservation running Annual Essay Prize is now the first British code-breakers, a and preservation of gardens. Mavis named. You will have seen some pioneer and a star, breaking codes became an important figure in details of Mavis’s inspirational vital to bringing peace. conservation, becoming first the career in our last issue. In the soon to be published Honorary Secretary and later the When World War II was biography (28 March), Jean delves President of the Garden History declared, Mavis, then studying into the life of one of Britain’s Society, which, under her watch, German Romanticism in London, best female code-breakers, taking established itself as both an

10 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Gilly Drummond Volunteer of the year Award 2020

ur annual Gilly Drummond whether as individual members of the application has support from OVolunteer of the Year Award the Gardens Trust or as a member several members. The application celebrates the efforts of people of a County Gardens Trust, are is strengthened if as much who have contributed to the work considered worthy of national evidence as possible is provided to of the Gardens Trust, and/or their acclaim and congratulations by support the nomination, including County or Country Gardens their peers. from the nominee’s local CGT Trust, and thereby greatly adding The winners since the award was Chair and committee members. to the enjoyment, learning and first presented are: We are calling on all members conservation of designed gardens, 2014 Janice Bennetts, Hampshire to give this matter some serious parks and landscapes. Gardens Trust; thought and to work together to It was first awarded at the 2015 Kate Harwood, Herts GT; submit nominations. Association of Gardens Trusts AGM 2016 Karen Lynch, Yorkshire GT; Your support will be much hosted by Gardens Trust 2017 Charles Boot, GT and appreciated, so that over in 2014 and has become a welcome Bucks GT; our Yorkshire Conference in and inspirational annual tradition 2018 Sally Bate, Norfolk GT and September (or as otherwise helping to publicise and raise the Jill Plater, Essex Gardens Trust arranged), we can reward a profile of the charity’s work, both (joint winners); volunteer with an unexpected but nationally and at a local level. 2019 Judith Christie, Cambridgeshire well-earned surprise. This award gives everyone the GT and Juliet Wilmot, Wiltshire GT Application forms are available to opportunity to highlight several (joint winners). down load from the GT website. highly valued and active members Over the last couple of years, the Completed forms should from around the country and judges on the Panel have made be returned by Friday 17 July all they have achieved in the some changes to the judging criteria 2020 to Teresa Forey-Harrison: wide and diverse fields of garden to make the award process as open [email protected] conservation and education. There and straightforward as possible. Any queries please use the above are only winners involved, because Any member may nominate a email or phone: 020 7251 2610. all those who are nominated, fellow member and it is helpful if All further details on the website.

academic society and campaigning and World culture, and the EH which she force for the protection of Register of Historic Gardens came finally signed landscapes, parks and gardens to fruition, largely under her off just a few of historic interest, in England influence. months before and worldwide. She lobbied Mavis’s passion was writing her death in Parliament, fighting threats of and she authored many books. November encroachment and misuse of land. She was awarded the RHS Veitch 2013. Acts of Parliament were passed, Memorial Medal and the MBE for Jean will be English Heritage was established, ‘Services to the preservation and joining our and conservation grants were conservation of historic landscapes’. Rewley House Study Weekend on introduced. Historic gardens Mavis never did retire, her final ‘Women and Gardens’, to talk to became officially recognised as project was to inspire an American participants about her book, and essential components of European Garden Trail for Bletchley Park sign copies of her book.

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 11 Garden History Grapevine courses update his term’s Grapevine course course — but the lack of courses the last two years, which have built- Tat the IHR has been on at all levels and the knock-on up a small but enthusiastic core of the history of nurseries, market effect that that would have had on attendees, so this year are working on gardens and seed companies etc., research, and ultimately the fate of a programme of courses and study with a look at the future of the our historic parks and gardens. days to run over the whole of 2020 British horticultural industry as The last year seems to have and 2021, to keep them involved well, with 26 people enrolled. bought a change in attitude and and interested. It’s being seen as a Led by David Marsh there have opportunities. Grapevine, the pilot for further development and been some excellent outside initiative I’ve been spearheading for a permanent rolling programme to guest speakers, including this the Trust for the last four years finally establish Birmingham as a proper year’s Master of the Worshipful looks as if it’s paying off. We began hub for garden history. Company of Gardeners, by running a few introductory days But things are getting better still Dr Heather Barrett-Mold, as well in London, in conjunction with the because working in partnership as Dr Jill Francis, Val Bott and Birkbeck Garden History Group, with Essex County Gardens Trust Dr Audrey Gerber. There were and followed these up with six- we’re developing a DIY version also two visits, one to the Museum session courses designed to give a bit of the introductory material that of English Rural Life at Reading more depth. As they proved popular CGTs will be able to download University to see some of their we followed with termly longer and and customise to their own extensive archives, and the other to more specialised courses based at circumstances. Again it’s been Rochford’s nursery, with the Institute of Historical Research, a partnership approach with a Paul Rochford, the owner, who covering such things as the history venue, in their case with Writtle is also a past Master of the of public parks, botany and garden University College. They offered Worshipful Company. history, the history of plants, and some free places for students in We’re taking a break from research skills. Every one has been a return for use of the meeting space. teaching after Easter — the sell-out and so for this term’s course The introductory day and follow gardening has to get done on the history of commercial gardens up led by a local volunteer was a sometime — but we’ll be back we’ve had to hire a bigger room. great success, and a second course in the autumn with, we hope, But we were very clear from the is planned for later this year. two new courses. Details will be outset that we didn’t want it to I did an introductory day posted in our summer issue and to be just another London-based with Devon CGT just before our mailing list, as well as on our idea. So over the past couple of Christmas, and by the time website as usual. years we’ve been trying to expand you read this should have done outwards, and after a couple of others with both Bucks GT, at false starts we seem to be on the Stowe, and Sheffield Botanic ’ve been teaching garden history way at last. Gardens. I’m hoping all of them Iin London for about seven years We’ve now run introductory will lead to longer locally led now, and probably learning as days or courses at The National courses. Several other CGTs much in the process as the classes at Westonbirt, have expressed an interest in I’m trying to teach. One of the Cambridge Botanic Garden, the knowing more. Although we are things I learned very quickly is that Lindley Library, Weald and Down only a small team, my colleagues it’s a popular subject, courses often Museum and Shrewsbury Museum. and I are enthusiastic and keen sell out completely, and that once In particular we’ve established a really to keep spreading the word, so hooked people want to go and do good working relationship with please get in touch: education@ more, and even pursue the subject Winterbourne House and Garden thegardenstrust.org if you’d like at MA and PhD level. But a couple at the University of Birmingham. to discuss the possibilities. of years ago I was quite depressed Advolly Richmond and Jill Francis David Marsh, about it — not the subject of have run introductory courses over Course leader

12 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 13 contributorsfrom our Going, going, gone? We hope not ‘Glasshouses at Risk’, Tatton Park, Cheshire Barbara Moth and Freyda Taylor

ow many Cheshire and other HGardens Trust, members visited Tatton Park last year and walked through the walled gardens? Like me you may have noted in passing the dilapidation of the glasshouses but assumed, due partly to the Heras fencing, that this was a case of ‘work in progress’. Sadly this assumption has proved utterly wrong. In late November Cheshire Gardens Trust received notification of a listed building application (Reference 19/5312M) to demolish the vinery and plant house. The vinery and plant and Co Brouns house are attached to a flued A part of the Walled Garden at Tatton in happier days, as recently as 2016. kitchen garden wall that is listed Grade II and so are covered by Hoffnung of The Gardens Trust: and continue to be used as at the listing. These glasshouses are The points we made were that: Tatton Park. The retention of clearly in a very poor state but • The Tatton Park estate was those glasshouses which survive is the application contained no bequeathed to the National very important.” proposal for reinstatement, simply Trust in 1958. Cheshire County • In 2003 considerable investment the retention of some potentially Council entered into a 99-year was made in rebuilding and useful fittings. The application also fully repairing lease, a lease which restoring the walled kitchen lacked some basic information. took on in 2009 garden and associated facilities. With growing concern and with 52 years to run. Cheshire Today all the glasshouses appear keen to make an informed East Council is therefore the legal to lack maintenance with the response, members of the Research custodian of these nationally Pineapple House being in very &Recording Group sent enquiries important heritage assets. poor condition, the whole range to the who forwarded • Documentation submitted with of glasshouses on the north wall it to the facilities manager at Tatton, the application from earlier reports is devoid of plants and none and to past and present head state that “the glasshouses and of them is open to the public. gardeners. We also alerted Historic conservatories at Tatton Park This not only represents a severe England to the case and made a are a remarkable group of plant degradation of physical heritage site visit. We then drafted a letter houses”, decorative and utilitarian. but a loss of the ability of Tatton strongly objecting to the application “It is rare that such a wide range Park to tell the story of the great which was submitted by Margie of buildings should still survive country house fed by its walled

14 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Tatton Park

Tatton Talk — from the kitchen garden A volunteer’s view by Marion Prescott (2006)

oday I made some curtains. This winter has been more of TPerhaps, not quite as riveting a traditional one, and although Tatton’s restored Pinery in 2008 an opening sentence as “last the soil here is a sandy loam, and night I dreamed of Manderley”, the walls offer some degree of but all will be explained. protection, the frosts have been First, a bit of background. The keenly felt. This is where the project for the recreation of curtains come in. Fleece curtains, the Victorian/Edwardian walled to protect the plum blossom on kitchen garden at Tatton Park, the north wall of the orchard. Knutsford, Cheshire, started The tall walls are wired for some years ago [2001], and I training the plums in fan shape, was fortunate to be involved so it was a fairly simple matter right from the start, in the to staple the fleece onto canes capacity of skilled volunteer, as I top and bottom of the drop, and Barbara Moth and Freyda Taylor Barbara Moth and Freyda had just “retired” from a career send Simon (the gaffer) up the The condition of the Pinery today as a professional horticulturist. ladder to fix the canes to the The kitchen garden team wires. (He’s a young chap, and garden, with grapes on the table started with a blank canvas, I’m getting on a bit.) all year and fresh pineapples a and together with the Finally, for a superb end-note sign of horticultural prowess and archaeologist, the architect, and (which is a one-off) one set owner hospitality. What is the the contractors, gradually started of the two husband and wife point of showing how grapes to lay out the skeleton of the teams of Tuesday volunteers were stored if there are no vines garden. The genius loci approved. recently celebrated their fortieth growing in the glasshouses? The project attracted the wedding anniversary, and having • We questioned why over a period attention of a few enthusiastic saved up their shared petrol of twelve years there appears to gardeners and allotment holders expenses over the last few years, have been persistent neglect of after the garden began to take commissioned a pair of very this range of glasshouses and shape, and now having worked fine, craftsman-made iron gates a lack of commitment to their together for several years, the which have now been installed reinstatement. Tuesday volunteer crew, fifteen between the orchard and the We were only able to make this strong in full muster, make a very kitchen garden, thus providing response due to the diligence of productive and hard-working the missing link between the several Cheshire Gardens Trust team, working all through the two areas. The gates incorporate members. Without our action this year, and in all weathers, thus acorns for the National Trust, case could have slipped through. achieving much. and design elements from the We are pleased that Historic There are keen volunteers on pair of iron gates at the other England has also submitted Wednesday and Thursday, and end of the kitchen garden. a strongly worded objection. although seasonal, make a good The wooden half-gate which Hopefully Cheshire East will take contribution to the manpower previously filled the gap has been note and think again. needed to keep the kitchen recycled as a compost bin lid. This is just part of our remit garden and orchard up to speed. at Cheshire Gardens Trust – the The end of the 2005 season was Extract from The Potting Shed, protection of historic designed the first time we managed to be magazine of The Walled Kitchen landscapes. Where the Gardens up to date with the jobs! Garden Network, #1 June 2006. Trust has the statutory duty to

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 15 Painshill joins Wörlitz comment on planning applications Note from Ed: Although Tatton launched a recruitment drive affecting listed parks and gardens, Park has dropped from its position together with the the volunteers of the County as the most visited NT property Fellowship and Association of Gardens Trusts being “on the in 1969 with double the numbers Gardens Trusts, taking a stand ground” can provide local going to ‘second place’ Chartwell, in the Heritage Tent at the RHS information and advice to validate it remains high on the list of serious Show, with panels for each these comments. gardens to visit with its superb organisation in 2002, which in We would encourage other Fernery/Palm House, authentic part led to the foundation of the members to read the entire Japanese Garden and extensive Cheshire Gardens Trust in 2004. planning application including 18th-century landscape park. The GHS staged a Study Day on the historic documents, the public It is also the site of the ever its on-going restoration at Tatton comments and the response from popular RHS Flower Show Tatton in 2003, based in the house with Historic England at: Park; this year running from guided visits around the newly planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 July. restored glass houses, work then (use reference no. 19/5312M). The Garden History Society still very much in progress. Painshill joins Wörlitz Michael Symes

ainshill, well known to Wörlitz is the central and most Pmembers of The Gardens Trust, important component. This unique has formed a ‘special relationship’ and creative project embraced social with Wörlitz, arguably the greatest reform, education (the building landscape garden in Germany, and of schools), philosophy (it has more or less contemporary with been called the cradle of German it. The creators of Wörlitz, Prince Enlightenment) and religious Franz of Anhalt-Dessau and his freedom, signified by a synagogue architect FW von Erdmannsdorff, in the grounds at Wörlitz which toured England in 1763–64 miraculously escaped destruction in (including Painshill), and again on WW2. There are no fences or walls Courtesy: Griffiths Paul three subsequent occasions. Their around Wörlitz, thus granting free The Painshill group in ‘The English Seat’: interests lay particularly in gardens access to all. Cherrill Sands, Michael Symes, Andy Mills and in the ‘new agriculture’ that It is hoped that this partnership (behind), David Taylor and Paul Griffiths. they saw over here. will promote links both in Wörlitz contains many echoes continuing scholarly investigations The Director of Painshill, Paul of English models in its garden of the original period and in the Griffiths, says, ‘It was an absolute structures, including an ‘English practicalities of maintaining an pleasure to visit Wörlitz and Seat’ which survives there although important historic garden. HRH spend time discussing with their the original, of which it is a copy, The Prince of Wales is Patron of Senior Team the shared issues (and has disappeared at Stourhead; both gardens, so there was already differences) between the parks. but it is far from being just a a significant link. The relationship In these uncertain times it is vital reconstruction of an English-style is, however, not intended to be we continue to work with our garden. Wörlitz forms part of an exclusive or restricted, and already European friends and partners, enormous Enlightenment project, there are signs that other German and we are delighted to be the ‘Gartenreich’, which gives it a gardens may be interested in ‘twinning’ Painshill with a garden scope far beyond that of a single working with Painshill. Overall it of such importance as Wörlitz. garden. In fact the Gartenreich is hoped that the collaboration will This arrangement may lead to a consists of six separate parks or play a significant part in fostering number of other activities which gardens, each different in scale, Anglo-German cultural relations will benefit both landscape gardens style and appearance, although in the garden sphere. which have global significance.’

16 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 The Petersfield Physic Garden The Petersfield Physic Garden celebrates thirty years Jenny Hill, Garden Manager

he Petersfield Physic Garden Tis a private garden which is open to the public without charge, providing a green oasis in the centre of Petersfield. It is a physic garden in the style of the 17th century and owes its existence to Major John Bowen who, in 1988, made the generous gift to Hampshire Gardens Trust of a walled garden. This was one of the original 12th-century ‘burgage’ plots to the rear of 16 High Street, Petersfield. A ‘burgage’ or borough plot was usually a rental property, often a long site with a narrow street frontage, as found in Brian Robinson many ancient towns. John Bowen A corner of the Physic Garden in May. had been incensed to read of the destruction of a site where rare emblem of the Petersfield Physic tradition of herb usage. However, orchids grew naturally and felt Garden. there was much concern in the that he would like his garden to be The design of the garden in 1988 early 17th century about the held in trust for the education and was created by Dr Sylvia Landsberg, quality of herbal medicines. enjoyment of the public whilst also a highly respected pioneer in Herbs were often bought from playing a part in the conservation historic garden design, who worked apothecaries who bought their of wild and endangered species. in collaboration with John Bowen supplies from ‘Herb women’ who Inspired by the Chelsea Physic and the Hampshire Gardens Trust. had become a particular target Garden, it was felt that the The Garden was formally opened of suspicion. Arguments for creation of a 17th-century style by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester better recognition of medicinal garden in three distinct sections in May 1990. plants then contributed to the would fulfil his purpose: Physic gardens owe their establishment of botanic or physic walk with knot garden, orchard names to the plants grown in gardens where plant identification and herb beds. them which were considered to could be practised. In 1670 The 17th century was the time contain medicinal properties. Christopher Merritt, a well- of the introduction in Great Generally, the beds were of a established physician and member Britain of formal Physic Gardens: defined geometric shape and laid of the Royal Society, claimed Oxford 1621, Edinburgh 1670 out in a formal pattern. Research that in order to learn the proper and Chelsea 1673. It was also has shown that the 17th century features of herbs, every student the time when two men eminent was particularly significant in of medicine should spend time in horticulture were residents of being a watershed when ‘physic/ ‘as Scholar to the Gardener of the Petersfield. John Worlidge, author medicine’ started to predominate Physic Garden.’ of ‘Systema Agriculturae’ and in the treatment of illness. Prior In this way, exactly thirty years John Goodyear, one of the most to this time the treatment of after it was established, the eminent botanists of the time, illness was primarily associated Petersfield Physic Garden both who gave his name to Orchidaceae with prayer, the handing down informs the scholar and delights Goodyeara, now used as the of family recipes and the oral the visitor.

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 17 Repton watercolur of Rivehall Place Essex Gardens Trust funds the renovation of a newly acquired Repton watercolour of Rivenhall Place Jill Plater

ssex Record Office recently Eacquired through donation a Humphry Repton monochrome watercolour of Rivenhall Place, which it has been suggested, may have been a working drawing for his publication Sketches and Hints on Landscape Gardening..., published in 1794. However the piece does have an overlay (hinged flap) which would suggest that it is more likely to be a preparatory painting for a Red Book of Rivenhall Place, commissioned in 1789, the Office© Essex Record whereabouts of which is unknown. glimpse behind the scenes in the edition of Repton In Essex is now EGT is pleased to have been able conservation room, where the available. Humphry Repton to fund the cost of conserving the senior conservator Diane Taylor (1752–1818) was the last of the drawing, which was carried out by explained that the present guiding designers responsible for the specialist paper conservator Lisa philosophy of all archivists and English Landscape movement in Wall, and a trip to the ERO for conservators is to respect the the Georgian era. He achieved members was organised to see it original integrity of the item, fame in his lifetime and ensured and other items of interest held rather than overcorrection. In that the principles of his design there. Lisa described the work some instances this involved endured after his death through involved in its restoration, and the removing earlier misguided his printed works. Repton’s interesting forensic work carried attempts at repair. Diane described considerable skill as an artist was a out to preserve delicate drawings how archives were prepared and factor in his success and his clients and paintings, which provides cleaned ready for public access and were tempted by his proposals in information about techniques and kept at a constant temperature and his famous ‘Red Books’ where his materials used, and sometimes humidity to prevent mould, for watercolour sketches showed the why. Repton, for example, worked example, and preserve the item for existing site as well as suggested with two different types of paper: as long as possible. improvements. ‘laid’ paper (with ribbed texture) For those who missed this Repton in Essex explores the was used for the writing, with fascinating visit to ERO, the evidence of Repton’s possible the superior and newer ‘wove’ Repton watercolour (before and involvement in over 40 sites paper (producing a finer, more after) and information about it in Essex, some of which have uniform finish) being used for the are digitised on their website, surviving Red Books and illustrations and inserted later. The essexarchivesonline.co.uk some where the Red Books are ‘wove’ paper was developed and reference D/DU 3138/1. presumed to have been made but made by James Whatman, whose are missing. son later commissioned Repton to Repton in Essex Publication Priced at £10, copies are produce a Red Book of his own Continuing on the theme of available by post with an property, Vinters, in Kent. Humphry Repton, Essex GT additional p/p charge. Email: Attendees also had a privileged are very excited that the 2nd [email protected]

18 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 The ‘real’ Secret Garden Great Maytham Hall the ‘real’ Secret Garden Paula Sewell

he Secret Garden was what Mary roses. The soft silence of it – the Tcalled it… when its beautiful remote aloofness – were the most old walls shut her in no-one knew perfect ever dreamed of.’ where she was. It seemed almost like Burnett stayed on at Great being shut out of the world in some Maytham for 10 years, before fairy place… and the secret garden moving back to the US after the bloomed and bloomed and every failure of a second, short-lived, morning revealed new miracles. marriage. In 1910, The Secret The above quote is from Frances Garden appeared in serial form in Hodgson Burnett’s much-loved an American magazine and then in 1911 children’s book, The Secret book form in 1911. Not initially Garden, and this April sees the as popular as her other children’s release of a new film version novels, it is now often listed as one starring Colin Firth and Julie of the best children’s books of the Walters. Various famous English 20th century. gardens have been used as However, the gardens at Great locations, including Iford Manor, Maytham are not only noted for Bodnant and Trebah – so probably Cover of The Secret Garden, U.S., 1911. Burnett’s time there. They became a treat for gardeners, but how well-known in horticultural many of us are aware that the for the secret walled garden: ‘It was circles for the efforts of its next inspiration for Burnett’s story was a lovesome, mystic place, shut in inhabitants, the Rt.Hon. H.J. a real hidden walled garden, at partly by old red brick walls against Tennant and his wife, May, who Great Maytham Hall in Kent? which fruit trees were trained… developed the gardens and became Burnett (1849–1924) was a It was my habit to sit and write prominent in the RHS. During British-born American novelist there under an aged writhen tree, the years of the first world war, and playwright, best known for gray with lichen and festooned with and despite suffering from a lack her children’s novels. Having lived of staff, gardening activity at in the US from an early age, she Great Maytham is noted in the returned to the UK after divorcing horticultural press. For example, her first husband and the death throughout 1917, the Gardeners’ of a son and, from 1898, rented Chronicle carried advertisements Great Maytham where, having a for the sale of several varieties of particular love of flowers, she set perpetual flowering Carnations about restoring the gardens. And (at 4s per dozen) from ‘The it was here that she discovered an Maytham Gardens’. Later, in old walled garden, dating back to 1921, a ‘pink’ named ‘Mrs H.J. the estate’s origins in the 1720’s, Tennant’ was shown at the overgrown and neglected. And, RHS, although I’ve been unable just as in The Secret Garden, a robin to ascertain whether this was helped her find the hidden door: as developed at Great Maytham or she would write later in her short by a more commercial venture. novel, My Robin, published in 1912, The press also provides an insight it took crumbs from her hand ‘the into the extent of horticulture instant I opened the little door in there in the years after the war, the leaf-covered garden wall’. In this as the Gardeners’ Chronicle of book, she also described her feelings Poster for the 2020 film version. November 1919 carried an

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 19 Hunsdonbury advertisement from a ‘temporary’ dwarf Phloxes… these pleasantly Victory’ scheme. After the war, gardener at Great Maytham interspersed with Lavender bushes the house stood empty until the seeking a new appointment. in flower’ with, at one end, ‘a blue mid-1960s when the buildings His advert describing a ‘well- corner composed of Hydrangeas were converted into private flats kept establishment’ with ‘Vines, and Lobelias’. It’s perhaps not and the gardens restored for Peaches, Carnations, Roses, surprising that the border was the benefit of residents. Today, Herbaceous Borders, , in the Jekyll style: shortly after however, the remaining 17-acres Flowering and Deciduous Shrubs, the Tennants’ move to Great of the estate’s gardens are open Rock and Water Gardens, Hardy Maytham, they engaged Edwin on a few days each year under the Fruit and a Kitchen Garden’. Lutyens to rebuild the main house NGS ‘Yellow Book’ scheme, which Under the Tennant’s ownership with, it’s said, the gardens certainly seemed to input from Jekyll have thrived and, by the early on the gardens 1920s, The Maytham Gardens (the 18th century were entering RHS exhibitions at main part of the both Holland House (the RHS house having summer shows held in July) and burnt down in Chelsea (their spring shows in 1893 and cheaply May). The press records exhibits rebuilt). Lutyens’ being awarded Silver Banksian design retained Medals in 1921 for a ‘herbaceous the old walled border’ at Chelsea and ‘hardy ‘secret’ garden’, flowers’ at Holland House, with landscaped the the Gardeners’ Chronicle describing terraced lawns the at Chelsea and surrounding Chronicle Gardeners’ The as ‘well-filled with artistically parkland, and The Maytham Gardens exhibit at The RHS Chelsea Exhibition, arranged plants… from which created a series of 1922, from The Gardeners’ Chronicle. many visitors will carry away formal gardens; inspirations for their own gardens’. a layout which mostly exists today. promises parkland; woodland with At the next Chelsea show in May At the outbreak of the second bluebells; a pond garden with 1922, The Maytham Gardens world war, Great Maytham Hall mixed shrubbery and herbaceous received a Silver Flora Medal, met the same fate as many an borders; interesting specimen again for a ‘herbaceous border’. English country house being trees; a large lawned area; and As well as a description, this time requisitioned by the army, its rose terrace with far reaching it also published a photograph gardens and manicured lawns views for visitors. The old walled showing a mixed border very mostly destroyed, dug up and ‘secret’ garden is still there with much in the style of Gertrude planted with various varieties herbaceous borders and a rose Jekyll with ‘Irises, Lupins and of vegetable under the ‘Dig for . Researching Hunsdonbury a ‘Process of Discovery’ Elizabeth Waugh

hen Anne Rowe suggested knew of it but that I hadn’t ‘seen’ an invasion of new housing when Wthat I write a site report on it. I was particularly interested in Harlow North and its proposed Hunsdonbury, located in a quiet carrying out research there, as it huge extent gets underway. I area of East Hertfordshire not far is a section of the district much wanted, as is the case with all from my home, I could say that I in danger of being squeezed by Herts Gardens Trust (HGT)

20 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Hunsdonbury

There, enumerated in acres and rods and in brief descriptions, were the details of the family’s properties. Hunsdonbury’s age and initial history was given as well as a careful summary of the gardens, the only one I was ever able to find, and buildings that had been there. It was particularly helpful that the great sell-off had had to take place just twenty-six years after Hunsdonbury was built so that the original plan was clear. This crash of fortune was Parson’s Green: Detail from Dury and Andrews map, 1766. due to the sharp decline in the Calverts’ once-booming brewery reports, to add to the evidence of estates that had developed in business, supplied with barley for of the historic value of the place. the large Hunsdon Manor land malting grown on the family’s East Anne set me up by sending on established after the Conquest, Hertfordshire estates. a section of the 1766 Dury and with Hunsdonbury as a named The 1858 Sales Particulars Andrews map, marked with property only becoming grand describe lawns, ‘pleasure grounds’, field boundaries, a road, a body in the nineteenth century, and a ‘rosery’ within a ha-ha, with of water, the Church and other therefore by far the newest of the kitchen gardens and plantations properties but showing nothing of group. However, the building of extending outward. These could Hunsdonbury. What was there was Hunsdonbury and the landscaping be discerned first by consulting a spot referred to as Parson’s Green of its grounds, tied as it was the Tithe Map of 1828 drawn and she indicated that was the ‘X’. to the economic fortunes of about three years after the house That was my starting point. the nineteenth century and its was built, and then the Ordnance When my friend and I drove subsequent history in the twentieth Survey map of 1880, where some over for a first impressions visit, we century and its part in great global of the surviving glasshouse features found that the word Hunsdonbury events, made untangling its story were marked in colour. Today, featured as the name of a road. very interesting. much of the original detail is lost. Following that, we came upon an After such a starting point A pleasant space with lawns and old building called North Lodge has been established comes the views over fields is in place, though and what is more, someone mowing moment to begin to access the it may be that the line of the ha-ha the grass beside it. He, the owner, riches that HALS holds. In the case can be traced in dry summers. kindly chatted, orientating us to of Hunsdonbury, among the many The gardens and details of what the place, a lodge set at the entry pieces of information available, two had been initially put in place as to a drive leading to two houses, specific resources were of great help. reported in the sales document could one called Hunsdonbury House, One was a sales document of 1858, be searched for when visiting. In the other the Gate House. It was full of particulars but unfortunately my case the interest the owners took enough, I could then withdraw to with no estate begin my research in order to return map attached, with an understanding of what for the great sale might still be seen. of all the Manor Building that understanding properties that took eighteen months. A starting had belonged point was to read the HGT to the Calvert reports written previously by family, owners Deborah Spring on Hunsdon at the height of House and Alison Moller on their prosperity Bonningtons. It became clear that of the Calvert these sites formed a triumvirate breweries. Hunsdonbury, house and grounds. Buckler, 1835.

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 21 Picturesque Landscapes around the Clyde

The RAF’s Equipment Section in 1943 in their quarters, the former coach house at Hunsdonbury. in our research and in learning more about their homes made the process not only easier but very pleasant. courtesy by of J. Dixon Eventually the internet proved Aerial view of Hunsdonbury,1950s, after the removal of the central section. valuable. The original sources found at HALS are a firm based there and that service blocks the properties is environmental as foundation for finding deeper for sleeping and eating had been well as historic: considerable acres history, but for relatively recent set up. Some prisoners may have are left unbuilt on and protected twentieth century history the been housed there. This evidence as woodland good for wildlife. internet holds some fascinating accounted perhaps for the Having followed a trail from as far images as well as descriptions. seemingly casual division of house back as was possible and having Hunsdonbury, the house and and grounds, roughed up as they come up to the present day, I estate, had been used during probably had been. found the process of research had the Second World War as a base Now, in this moment, the hue led me to unexpected insights for personnel involved with the and cry of previous eras is gone and about a place I had thought nearby Hunsdon airfield. Pictures the Hunsdonbury neighbourhood familiar and had given me the showed that WAAFS had been is green and calm. The value of satisfactions of detection. Report: Picturesque Landscapes around the Clyde Study Tour, 15-21 June 2019 Claire Sarkies

ince our study tour leaders, setting, overlooking the river with way to the much visited, painted SKristina Taylor, Robert Peel the Cathedral on the far side, a hill and described Falls of Clyde. Here and Peter McGowan, adopted an made even higher by substantial were ample demonstrations of expansive view of ‘The Picturesque memorial towers, the whole site men improving upon nature by Tour’, pioneered by Reverend graced by carefully considered tree applying ‘artistic principles derived William Gilpin (1724–1804), our planting and perhaps The Royal from the fine arts’ observing the itinerary included some unexpected Infirmary conveniently nearby for use of perspective, light, shade, and delightful revelations. future customers. foreground and background. The Necropolis of Glasgow, for Pleasingly, the coach journey New Lanark Mills, an exercise instance, made a surprising start to through the Clyde Valley in a more humane relationship ‘Picturesque Landscapes around the ‘surnamed the Paradise of between employer and employee, Clyde. What did a cultural import Scotland’ certainly epitomised occupies an idyllic position on of a monuments to the worthy the picturesque. Windows framed the lower level of the Clyde from dead have to do with an aesthetic scenes of rising or falling ground, which walks up The Falls begin. movement? The commanding with abounding greenery on the The naturally impressive scenery

22 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Picturesque Landscapes around the Clyde of the waterfalls with twists and catcher’, above a wooded slope bends in the path which then open turned white by snowdrops, surely and close vistas, was enhanced in the qualifying as an artistic rendering 18th century by local landowners of a picturesque scene. who created pathways, and planted Next door at Kelburn, there is trees strategically, adding terraces, only one formal garden left. Called bridges and vantage points, to the Children’s Garden it was encourage the emerging tourist trade. designed in 1760, and contains in On the day of our visit, The Falls each corner the initials of the 3rd were gently picturesque rather than Earl of Glasgow’s four children. awesomely sublime, since the hydro- On a smaller, but nonetheless electric plant only releases the full impressive scale, the Kel Burn force of the torrent to delight visitors offers a similar experience to the on Bank Holidays. Falls of Clyde. A walk follows Within the valley, some notable the dramatic water course with buildings fit beautifully into Robert Peel views on the way up of fine trees the landscape and display the The Falls of Clyde. (Kelburn has the ‘oldest and principles of the picturesque. tallest’ Monterey pine in Scotland) Chatelherault is a most switching perspectives at the distinguished utilitarian building, bridges and looking over the possibly the finest residence built coastal scene on the way down. to house dogs and horses. It looks Ferrying over to the Isle of Bute across the valley to where the we admired the picturesque setting Palace of Hamilton once stood. of a nobleman’s house. Mount Thus each building afforded a Stuart, on rising ground, was built focal point for the other. The pure to take advantage of the coastal white, sumptuous plasterwork of views. When coal on their Welsh the ceilings within Chatelherault estates made the family ‘rich resemble highly decorative icing, beyond the dreams of avarice’ a red highly suited to its contemporary brick Gothic extravaganza replaced use as a wedding venue. the original 18th-century house We also visited two grand houses (below). Although austere without, near Glasgow which made full use and somewhat reminiscent of a of the natural landscape in siting fantastical boys’ boarding school, their houses and landscaping the Robert Peel the William Burgess interior is grounds. Ardgowan House and Looking out from Chatelherault. highly decorated and lavishly Kelburn Castle, occupy strategic positions overlooking the Firth of Clyde. The landscape of Ardgowan was laid out by James Ramsay in about 1800. Now it is notable for splendid trees, shrubs and spring bulbs. The house is high enough to exploit coastal views to the front and rear. Although tree growth has obscured the view to the rear, an artificially ironed out meadow at the entrance to the drive helps take the eye to the water. An illustration by Mary Wilson in Sir Herbert Maxwell’s Scottish Gardens 1908 shows an old castle keep used as an ‘eye- Robert Peel

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 23 Picturesque Landscapes styled. We were privileged to explore some corners normally hidden from view, our passport to a corridor of paintings that the official house guides had never seen was due to Kristina and Robert, co-authors of a book on the house and gardens, who were our study tour guides. The extensive parkland has a glorious collection of specimen trees, only equalled by those at the Botanical Gardens at Benmore. The scenery between Bute and Benmore was magnificent as we left the coastal road and headed to the mountains. Conditions at Benmore are ideal for coniferous trees with a high rainfall of 80 to 90 inches a year and acidic soil. Between 1870 and 1883 6.5 million trees were planted on the estate and many more have been added since. There is a famous avenue of Giant Redwoods and several Abes Koreanna with eye- catching blue cones. Despite the density of tree planting views are still open to the natural landscape

‘A man can make a pretty landskip of his

own possessions’ Benmore. ‘Chile’, showing the in the shape of a condor. beyond. Parts of the site have castle upon a knoll and some skiffs started the Helensburgh and been artfully designed to represent upon the lake’ Although the castle Gareloch Horticultural Society. the vegetation and landscape of is now boarded up, the grounds His success in the Helensborough mountainous regions in Chile and and garden were delightful to stroll Horticultural Show is recorded in Bhutan, and here I saw a Scottish through with many fine trees and the Glasgow Herald of September red squirrel enjoying the air. specimen rhododendrons. 6, 1850. The grounds passed to Turning south, Loch Lomond’s As we travelled back towards the local authority in 1911 and proximity to Glasgow made it Glasgow, we heard how prosperous the site is being imaginatively a prime location for wealthy industrialists and professionals in renovated as a public park and city merchants. Balloch Castle the 19th century made gentlemen’s local amenity with the help of was built above the Loch in the residences on sites of 12-acres with a Heritage Lottery grant and English picturesque style for coastal views only half an hour support from The Gardens’ Trust. a Glaswegian banker in 1808. by train from the city. Hermitage Glenarn in nearby Rhu was The building and its situation House was built as the home of built in 1850 on a rising site off would have satisfied John Gilpin’s Robert Alexander in 1830. His Pier Road. The garden abounds requirements of ‘tufted woods employee, Archibald Arroll, was in choice plants, trees and shrubs. creeping up the side of the hills, a one of the Head Gardeners who Walks around the garden were

24 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Picturesque Landscapes around the Clyde beautifully designed to link the different sections. Here the eye was taken to the collection rather than views beyond. The original owners subscribed to Joseph Hooker’s 1849/50 Sikkim expedition and notably received Rhododendron falconeri which grows at the side of the house. The great range of plants in this garden can be traced to other past plant-hunters Kingdon Ward, Ludlow and Sheriff. The present

‘The borrowed landscape, a unifying

concept throughout’ Robert Peel Glenarn at Rhu. General view of rockery. owners have made heroic efforts to restore, maintain and extend calm and simplicity after the more of hills beyond, so that the ‘rooms’ the collection, overcoming the complex lines and viewpoints of the never confine or oppress. difficulties of moving tree cuttings garden below. Cleverly, the garden However, for me, Duntreath was on the steep site by extraordinary owners had left a gap in the to the true highlight of the week. feats of engineering and ingenuity. take in a tree in the space beyond the The house, its setting and garden All the stopping places on our boundary. Throughout the garden epitomise the picturesque. Visualise tour featured the natural beauty there was a focus on leading the eye a Scottish Baronial Castle, carefully of hills, valleys, woods and water. forward to another space or looking scaled down by the present owner, Owners and garden designers had back to view the scene from a with the original castle Keep a few made striking use of the existing different angle. At every point in the steps away. The drive falls gently landscape, ‘borrowing’ it to enhance design, the eye is taken to the ring down from the road, with woods the aesthetic appeal of their homes Robert Peel and gardens. The picturesque is not confined to one era, as this tour showed. A newer garden we visited at the end of the tour was Dun Ard at Fintry a village surrounded by wonderful hills. This outstanding garden begun in the 1980s has an exceptionally imaginative lay-out, with different garden rooms and changing atmospheres. The garden is high up in the village; a series of garden rooms on a sloping site. When rising from admiring a plant, an inspiring view of hills lifts the visitor out of a contrived and highly organised scene to the freedom of the open, untouched landscape. At the highest point in the garden was a ‘room’ with a pool. There was no Robert Peel fussy planting: here was a place of Dun Ard. The room with a pool.

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 25 The Vale of Aylesbury and Rex Whistler on either side, the vistas opening out as the buildings appear, pleasingly sited to exploit the view of Ben Lomond along the valley to the west. In the afternoon of sun and showers we wandered around the beautiful to the south of the house with wooded slopes beyond. Absolutely the best view was beyond the balustraded and rose garden, beyond the crenelated gatehouse to the sheep grazing the other side of a ha-ha with an unspoilt view to the horizon. In the golden light of the late afternoon, with the addition of a swain and his lover Robert Peel in the foreground and perhaps a Duntreath. Not, alas, the view specified, this is of the Castle viewed from the water modest temple in the mid-distance garden. You will just have to visit it yourself to see Claire’s Claudean view… we could have been looking at a canvas by Claude Lorrain. We We all appreciated the special sites. Unguided we could were the only visitors, and our preparation, expertise and not possibly have covered so party had thinned out over the enthusiasm of our Study Tour many gardens in so short a time, extensive grounds so that we had leaders. Kristina’s knowledge of the nineteen venues in six days, a the quietness and calm necessary area and wide range of contacts Picturesque Tour worthy of Gilpin to enjoy the picture to the full. gave us privileged access to some himself indeed. The Vale of Aylesbury and Rex Whistler The Bucks Gardens Trust Artists’ Gardens Project Gill Grocott

he Vale of Aylesbury is the Ttitle of a poster issued by Shell in the 1930s as part of their Everywhere You Go You Can Be Sure of Shell poster series. The original oil painting now hangs in Upton House in Warwickshire and its creation, in Whitchurch, is commemorated by one of the houses in the village called Whistler’s View. Reginald John Whistler (Rex) was born in Britain on 24 June 1905, at Eltham, Greater London. The family moved to Farnham Common in Buckinghamshire in the 1920s just before Rex

26 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 The Vale of Aylesbury and Rex Whistler

Whistler was accepted at the when considering proposals to including a startling nude one. Royal Academy. He disliked the build a Third London Airport When war broke out, although regime there and was ‘sacked for at Cublington in the 1970s, was he was 35, Whistler was eager incompetence’ and then studied influential in defeating the scheme. to join the army and in 1939. at the Slade School of Art. Upon Naturally, changes have taken His parents returned to live with leaving the Slade he became a place. Part of the garden where relatives at Bierton and Rex stayed professional artist. His most noted the picture was painted no longer with them whilst on leave. At early work was the mural for the belongs to Bolebec House, two Bierton he produced three pictures restaurant at the Tate Gallery (now new houses have been built of the Church and Vicarage, Tate Britain) completed in 1927 therein, and the view that Rex which are now owned by the which includes impressions of Whistler painted is not quite the Buckinghamshire County Museum. the Corinthian Arch and Boycott same, as a large wind turbine now In the Army Rex Whistler’s at Stowe. forms part of it. I am not sure artistic talent was greatly In 1933 Rex moved, with his whether the large tree under which appreciated and he was able to younger brother Laurence and Laurence sat is still there, but find time to continue some of his his parents, to Bolebec House, rather hope it might be. work, including a self-portrait in Whitchurch, Bucks. They stayed there until 1937 when they moved to Wiltshire. According to Laurence Whistler, the family wanted a country home ‘with some charm’ although he describes the charm as ‘nondescript’. In the new garden Rex and Laurence made what Rex called ‘the improvements’, a short avenue of limes crossed by one of flowering cherries. They also built a raked wall of turfs designed to make a terrace of a sloping field, however, within a few weeks part of it collapsed and had to be rebuilt at a less ambitious angle. By 1985 the cherries and ramparts Gill Grocutt had apparently gone, but some Possible site for the Whistler view in the Vale of Aylesbury of the limes remained. Laurence Whistler goes on to say that, ‘The Whilst living in Whitchurch Rex in uniform, now in the National garden ended in a crest of rook- also created designs for Wedgwood Army Museum. His unit was sent racked elms, overlooking two china based on drawings he made to France at the end of June 1944, fields of ours and beyond them the of the Devon village of Clovelly shortly after the D-Day landings. wide Vale of Aylesbury, enclosed and designed the scenery and He was killed on 18 July 1944 and by the Chilterns. This was what costumes for Ninette de Valois and his body now lies in Banneville- Rex painted to celebrate arrival in Gavin Gordon’s Hogarth-inspired La-Campagne War Cemetery. real country, when Shell asked him 1935 ballet The Rake’s Progress, as Reportedly, The Times newspaper for a poster, and in it, seated under well as producing some exquisite received more letters about a beech he painted me.’ book illustrations, the highlight Whistler’s death than for any Laurence Whistler describes perhaps being those for Andersen’s other war victim. A memorial glass the painting as ‘A perfunctory Fairy Tales. Rex also produced engraving by Laurence Whistler landscape’ but says it has ‘a certain mural and trompe-l’oeil painting at The Rex Prismis to be found in historical interest’. However, it Plas Newydd. Whistler and Lady the Morning Chapel at Salisbury is said that a copy of the poster, Caroline Paget are known to have Cathedral. Laurence also wrote hung up in the Piccadilly Hotel become very close friends and he a biography of his brother The where the Commission met painted numerous portraits of her, Laughter and the Urn (1985).

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 27 in memoriam Peter Hayden 1928–2019 orn in North Staffordshire, In 1982 the Staffordshire Moorlands BPeter Hayden was educated District Council and The National at Wolstanton Grammar School Trust acquired the estate and in 1984 and read English at the University the garden was accorded Grade I of Wales, Bangor where he met status on the National Register of his wife Jean. During National Gardens by the Historic Buildings Service in the Intelligence Corps and Monuments Commission. he trained as a Russian interpreter Peter continued to work as an advisor at Cambridge University and and was a major influence on the Joint Services’ School for the subsequent restoration work. Linguists. Peter subsequently His detailed research, published worked for the Nature Conservancy in 1989 as Biddulph Grange: A and planned a career studying and Victorian Garden Rediscovered, managing the natural environment established the significance of the but following the death of his gardens. Actively involved in a father he returned to Staffordshire number of other gardens, he wrote to manage the family business. the initial Conservation Plan for By the mid-1960s Peter had Alton Towers and was an integral expanded his interest in visiting part of the Heritage Committees historic gardens into researching of both Alton Towers and Castle their history. He was an early and Bromwich, advising on restoration active member of The Garden projects and undertaking extensive History Society, the predecessor research for both. Charles Boot of The Gardens Trust, serving as An early convert to the new idea Peter enveloped by Biddulph Grange, 2011. Treasurer, then Chairman and of County Gardens Trusts, Peter latterly as a Vice-President. He championed the establishment of in and gain access to areas and records contributed frequently to our one for Staffordshire throughout denied to other western Europeans. journal, Garden History, and the later 1980s. He was delighted In 2005, he published Russian to other academic publications. when the Staffordshire Gardens Parks and Gardens, a comprehensive Additionally, he led parties of and Parks Trust was launched in account spanning 800 years of members of the Society to visit 1992 and served as a member of garden history that combined historic gardens in Sweden, Russia its Council for several years. an erudite text with the author’s and China. During this time, he Peter had an extensive knowledge own evocative photographs and a also became known as a skilful of European gardens. A regular wealth of rare archive illustrations. garden photographer. visitor to Scandinavia, he The following year he was awarded In the 1970s, Peter became translated Annie Christensen’s The a Gold Medal by the Russian concerned about the gardens at Klingenberg Garden Day-Book from Academy of Fine Arts, the first Biddulph Grange, which had Danish and German. A special foreigner to have received the award started to deteriorate when the interest in the parks and gardens of since it was introduced by Catherine house became a hospital in Russia led to numerous visits over a the Great in the Eighteenth Century. the 1920s. He was active in a thirty-year period, Increasingly, Peter withdrew campaign to keep public interest forging friendships from public life as deafness in the gardens alive, with with Russian made participation in meetings widespread lobbying, television architects, academics challenging. He lived his final interviews and even the first and historians. years at a nursing home in depiction of an historic garden His linguistic skills Cheshire, dying peacefully in his on a British postage stamp. allowed him to blend sleep, on 26 September.

28 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 in memoriam Ray Desmond 1925–2020 ay Desmond, librarian, well-received books including Rauthor and bibliographer, Kew: the History of the Royal died on 13 January aged 94, after Botanic Gardens, Sir Joseph Dalton a short illness. He was the first Hooker: Traveller and Plant professionally qualified librarian Collector, and the Dictionary at Kew, which he joined in 1961. of British & Irish Botanists and As Chief Librarian & Archivist, Horticulturalists, he oversaw the creation of the A founder member of the Main Library which brought Garden History Society, he was together material from all across involved with our publications the organisation into one purpose- from the beginning, collating built space (complete with Heal’s a bibliography of books and shelving). Among his other articles on the subject of historic achievements, he was responsible parks, gardens, plants and their for the creation of Kew’s Archives. gardeners, for our newsletter, A (possibly apocryphal) story which later developed into his A Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, The recounts how he was given a tour Bibliography of British Gardens, Ray at the publication of his Kew, 1995. of Kew’s Herbarium on his first day expanded in its second edition and, on his second day, he retrieved to A Bibliography of British and compiling almost all of its second the collection of letters from Irish Gardens, the invaluable edition, and instructing his Charles Darwin, written on The starting point for much research successors in how to continue Beagle voyage, from where they had into historic designed landscapes the work, which is long overdue been languishing on a shelf there, in the British Isles. He was for a new edition. He remained a thus founding the Archives for essential to the work of the much revered and respected Vice Kew, the Royal Botanic Gardens. Society, contributing to our first President of the Society, and then Ray was the author of many very Cumulative Index of publications, The Gardens Trust, until his death. Charles Boot

Peter enveloped by Biddulph Grange, 2011. Bill Tomlins 1927–2019 ill Tomlins, a member of was able to combine three of his Bthe GHS & Surrey GT for favourite subjects, gardening, many years, died on 28 October history and poetry. Bill became at the age of 92. Bill was born in the principal guide and speaker Walton-on-Thames Surrey and and conducted a remarkable 942 attended Ardingly College, where tours and 320 talks and study his weekend excursions into the days, mainly at Painshill but also Sussex countryside prompted at other gardens, institutions his lifelong love of walking and and the University of Surrey. nature, particularly his love of He was very popular and had

trees. He enjoyed two long and a broad knowledge of garden Jan Clark successful careers. He initially history through the centuries. His Bill with blossoming mimosa, in snow. ran his family’s chamois leather favourite adage was, ‘If you want business but after his retirement to learn, teach.’ In 2012 Bill was but also helped many others at at sixty, his life took a totally awarded an honorary doctorate by Painshill. Bill’s unexpected second different turn and he became Writtle College in recognition of career brought him much pleasure involved with the restoration his services to garden history. and happiness and fortunately he of the celebrated eighteenth- Personally, Bill was a good lived to see Painshill almost fully century and dear friend who not only restored. He will be greatly missed. at Painshill in Surrey. Here he encouraged and inspired me Jan Clark

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 29 in memoriam Peter Lindesay 1931–2019 eter was born in Bristol, that the Heritage Lottery Fund Pand graduated from UCL had earmarked funding for the London, where he met his future main project to upgrade the UK wife Kathleen. He completed his Parks and Gardens Record, to National Service in Germany, provide a freely available source before working for British Rail and of information relating to the then Costain. historic designed landscapes and During his career in civil green spaces of the UK which engineering he worked abroad would be available to all, to widen extensively, while living in knowledge in our garden heritage. Yorkshire, Kent, Henley-on An additional sum towards the Thames, and later Cirencester. At cost of the Stage One development, his memorial service his two sons involved a thorough review of spoke of Peter’s interest in boats, the database originally created by caravan holidays in Europe, skiing York University, together with and rugby, and DIY projects. In wide consultation with national work of Peter, Jenny Burt and Val his retirement Peter was Church agencies, schools, researchers and Hepworth.” And Dr Jane Greville, Warden of a 12th-century church user groups. Stage Two involved the University of York recalled “If Peter at Aveling near Tetbury. development of the database and hadn’t been the Chair, the project Peter’s ‘second career’ in the training of volunteers throughout would certainly have foundered.” County Gardens Trusts (CGTs) the country to enable them to input The overdue Launch of Parks and movement began when he information directly to the database. Gardens UK at the Kensington joined the Gloucestershire Many of the individual CGTs Roof Gardens in London finally Gardens Trust, and in September members had been researching happened in May 2008. I am sure 1999 helped to organise the the subject for years. The project Peter would have welcomed Philip AGT AGM/Conference, later ensured that the information which White’s recent endeavour to take becoming Gloucs GT’s Chairman. volunteer researchers had collated the now much-used, invaluable and Later again, Val Hepworth, was held on a central database, in a ‘taken for granted’ database to the of Yorkshire GT, remembers uniform manner and that the data next level of digital improvement “Gilly Drummond suggested would be available to the widest and accessibility at Hestercombe. that ‘the very able Chairman of possible audience. Peter’s passing has revived my Gloucestershire GT” should take The project was far from own positive, personal memories, over from Jenny Burt as Chairman uncomplicated. Gilly Drummond especially the realisation of of the AGT. He was an excellent remembered that, “Peter had just how far he brought on the Chairman, totally committed, great charm and was one of the professional capability of the practical, capable and business- most straightforward, kind and AGT charity. Personally, it was like. He put in a huge amount; easy persons to work with, never a privilege to work with Peter. I and was driven to getting the-then agitated, always caring, supportive admired him greatly. Parks & Gardens Database Project and quietly focused. He was such It was typical that he should (PGDP) established — now it has a star, so calm, organised and pitch up unexpectedly at a 2014 become parks&gardens.org efficient. The fact that the early South West Regional CGT Peter became a determined, recording systems were a muddle Meeting concerning the complex driving force behind the PGDP, and we were not computer savvy merger of the two conservation originally a partnership between enough then to spot this, was part charities AGT and GHS. At this the AGT (representing the 33 of the learning curve. Peter’s passing time, his sincere, loyal, dedicated CGTs in England and Wales), the has certainly brought back some and wise support meant so much. Garden History Society (GHS) memories. Just how significant those By all accounts, we were blessed and the Landscapes & Gardens strong foundation stones of research, to have Peter in the team, a good Department, the University recording for the online database man who will be much missed. of York. In summer 2002, the were put in place, was thanks Steffie Shields MBE PGDP was pleased to announce to the combined, steadfast hard Vice-President

30 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 other events & news in brief

ue to lack of space we are over many years, and was again a who did so much to support and Dsorry to have to very briefly much loved and familiar figure at progress the work of the Trust. report the loss of several other many other GHS and GT events. Herbert Robinson, was simply members who will have been Both served on the Council unique, a delightful companion. known to many of our readers. and Committees of the Garden Another regular on GHS Study Bill Pack was a familiar face History Society. Tours, he could always be relied on on GHS visits and overseas tours Roger Gedye was a much to drift away to performances of and a regular attendee at our appreciated and knowledgeable his beloved opera. On one notable Annual Summer Conference. He member of Hertfordshire Gardens occasion he was spotted striding was instrumental, along with his Trust becoming Vice Chairman off, though I am not sure that is good friend Pippa Rakusen in and then Chairman, as well as quite the right way to describe driving through our third, now the long-serving newsletter editor Herbert’s gait, ducking out of a fourth, ‘aim’, ‘To encourage the for Herts GT, following a career gentle evening’s reflection back at creation of new parks, gardens and as a teacher and housemaster at our hotel, to attend a performance designed landscape’. Wellington College. The Gedye at the Opera National de México. Andrew Semple organised a Fund in Roger’s name has been set All will be much missed. series of Study Tours to Ireland up as a lasting memorial to a man Charles Boot other events & news in brief

Sanctuary: Artist-Gardeners British Baroque: the baroque are vastness of scale, 1919–1939 Power and Illusion the use of illusion and perspective Exhibition at the Garden Exhibition at Tate Britain, London to inspire awe and the use of Museum, London until Sunday April 19 extravagant rhetorical allegory to until Sunday 5 April here is much to delight the convey messages about power. he golden age of garden Tgardener and garden historian The splendour of many baroque Tpainting will be celebrated in in this whirlwind of an exhibition. gardens (often referred to as the this selling exhibition, in support This was an age of magnificent, French formal style) was recorded of the Garden Museum’s education complex garden-making to in dizzyingly detailed, often programmes. Between the two complement magnificent oversized rarely seen bird’s-eye views, most world wars there were an exceptional architecture. The key elements of especially Jan Siberechts vast over- number of artists who gardened, view of Chatsworth. taking their activities as plantsmen and plantswomen as seriously Piet Oudolf vs William Robinson: as they took their art. Charles Exploring styles Mahoney shared his unbridled in naturalistic planting enthusiasm for plants with Edward at the Garden Museum, London Bawden, Geoffrey Rhoades, John 7pm, Tuesday 7 April Nash and Evelyn Dunbar who iet Oudolf has had a huge swapped cuttings with each other by Pimpact on the way we garden post. Dunbar, along with Mahoney in the West, spearheading the new and Nash, even produced books perennial movement. But over on the subject, while Harry Bush’s a century before him, William oeuvre evolved around painting Robinson (1838-1935) rebelled and repainting his garden in the A View of Chatsworth by Jan Siberechts, against the artificiality of Victorian south west London suburbs. circa 1703. garden design, seeking to mimic

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 31 other events & news in brief the grace and growth patterns of wildflowers. Drawing on their own experience as gardeners and plantsmen, Mat Reese and Rory Dusoir will host this lively discussion comparing the two traditions which continue to influence today. Mat Reese is the head gardener at Malverleys, which is designed and planted in 500th anniversary of the birth of maps carrying his annotations. A the Robinsonian English country Lord Burghley. This Symposium Chinese silver-mounted porcelain garden style. Rory has been organised by Burghley bowl presented by Elizabeth I learned his trade under 500 and will take and the earliest known plan of a Christopher Lloyd place at the Garden London house and garden, Cecil and Fergus Garrett Museum, built on on the Strand. A splendid selection at Great Dixter, the site of the burial of 16th-Century objects will be and his first book, of John Tradescant, included, with silver, ceramics Planting the Oudolf gardener to the Cecil and rare books stretching back to Gardens at Hauser family. William Cecil’s lifetime. and Wirth Somerset Contributing experts was published in include Dr Jill Husselby Derek Jarman: My Garden’s September 2019. on Burghley House; Boundaries Are The Horizon Cost: £25 see the Museum website. Dr Emily Cole on Exhibition at the Garden Theobalds; Mark Griffiths on John Museum, London Garden history: Art and Craft Gerard; Dr Paula Henderson on Friday 24 April to Sunday 12 July Institute of Continuing Burghley’s gardens; Karen Hearn he exhibition will display Education, Cambridge on portraits of Burghley’s wife, Tpaintings and sculptures Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 April Mildred; and Dr Nigel Llewellyn from throughout Jarman’s ed by Caroline Holmes, on Burghley’s monument in career, on loan from The Keith Lparticipants will explore the St Martin’s Church, Stamford. Collins Memorial Will Trust. roots of garden ‘Arts and Crafts’ The day will begin with an Gardens and plants spilled into in dreams of Eden, in flowering introduction by the Marquess of all elements of Jarman’s creative meads and in drifting borders. The Salisbury, followed by a welcome output. When nominated for the visions evoked are those of gardens from Christopher Woodward, Turner Prize in 1986 he described and vernacular architecture, and of Director of the Garden Museum. painting as ‘my secret garden… names such as William Robinson, Cost: £70, but only £60 for an escape’. His black paintings of William Morris and Gertrude Gardens Trust members. Book the 1980s, covered with tar and Jekyll. Does a notion of effortless from our website. informality manacle gardeners to the past? William Cecil, Cost £310. Builder of Burghley Exhibition See: ice.ca.ac.uk for full details. at Burghley House, Stamford his Exhibition continues the Burghley 500 Symposium Tcelebration of 500 years since At the garden Museum the birth of William Cecil, with 10am to 4.30, Tuesday 21 April items displayed from that period, symposium on the role that some of which are believed to have AWilliam Cecil, first Baron been at Burghley during Lord Burghley, played as one of the Burghley’s lifetime. It will feature most important patrons of art, a wide selection of rare items architecture and horticulture in relating to the Treasurer’s life and the Elizabethan Period will be held times. These will include his atlas Sooley © Howard as part of the celebration of the which contains hand coloured Derek Jarman at Prospect Cottage c.1990

32 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 other events & news in brief found objects from the beach and Henrietta Dream: garden, are an emotive response Events organised by Arts and Crafts of to his HIV diagnosis; while his Scotland’s Garden and Hampstead Garden Suburb colourful landscapes from the early Landscape Heritage The City Literary Institute 1990s evoke the joy and beauty our sister organisation north 11am, to 1.30pm, Sunday 7 June experienced in the garden. of the border. walk led by Marilyn Greene Derek Jarman acquired Prospect Ato trace the early history Cottage, a fisherman’s shack on the The Explorers’ Garden, and developments of Hampstead shingle at Dungeness, for £32,000, Pitlochry Garden Suburb. It includes the when he came across the building Saturday 9 May Heath Extension, Central Square- with a ‘For Sale’ sign while filming designed by Edwin Lutyens, on the beach with Tilda Swinton. SGLH AGM 2020 and the original Artisans quarter Having been diagnosed with HIV Saturday 27 June designed from 1907 by Barry on 22 December 1986, Jarman had Parker and Raymond Unwin. resolved ‘to get as much out of life Hermitage Park and Cost: £19, as possible’ and started creating a The Hill House, Helensburgh see: www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/ garden. His hugely influential and Saturday 18 July much loved garden is now ‘at risk’. Garden Museum Literary The Garden Museum Raffle: Festival 2020 Win an afternoon inside at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk Prospect Cottage Friday 19 to Saturday 20 June Enter the Garden Museum Raffle hristopher Woodward, to win the chance to spend an Cthe Museum’s Director, afternoon inside Prospect Cottage, writes: ‘When we had the idea and more: entry included in of a Festival dedicated to books a ticket to the Museum. The about gardens that would move money raised from the raffle will from garden to garden, we support the exhibition. Or enter Guided walk around the never imagined that we’d be so via the museum’s website (see our recently restored Hermitage lucky. Last year, Midsummer at celebratory Lecture on p.39). Park (see also p.24), followed Houghton Hall, hosted by Lord by a visit to The Hill House, and Lady Cholmondeley, was Cultivating Interculturalism Helensburgh, the Charles an unforgettable two days. And University of Magdeburg Rennie Mackintosh mansion before that, Boughton House in Wednesday 27 to Saturday 30 May currently under restoration, 2017, Hatfield, Petworth and he title indicates how far- with its formal gardens. Serge Hill… Tranging it will be: ‘Cultivating Interculturalism: Gardens as The Hermitage, Perthshire Crossroads of Civilisations’. Saturday 17 October Speakers are led by our very own A guided walk to The Michael Symes on the ‘Sentimental Hermitage on the River Garden’, and will cover themes of Brann, Dunkeld, Perthshire, cultural politics, garden theory, complemented by a talk at the literature, philosophy and social Birnam Institute. history, with several case studies of individual parks and gardens. For full details of all these Although primarily an academic events see: sghl.org/events. conference, there will be one or two more practical sessions such as one on the effects of climate The organiser is Dr Hans Breunig: This summer we have been invited change on the maintenance of information and queries to: to Helmingham Hall (above), one historic gardens, with David [email protected] of the most romantic houses Lambert (see GT News 11, p.28). or see the website: in England, by Edward and All papers will be given in English. garden-conference2020.ovgu.de Sophie Tollemache. It will be an

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 33 other events & news in brief exploration of Helmingham’s 500 Conquest to the present day. and artistic symmetry, to satisfy years of garden history, and of the The course will include visits to the human need for order and gardens designed in recent years by Cliveden (17th to 21st century) control. Participants will explore Xa Tollemache, Edward’s mother. and Greys Court, a mid-20th- how this evidence is instantly Crossing the drawbridge over the century garden within the ruins of identifiable in geometrically moat into the cobbled courtyard a medieval castle. planned gardens, but can equally is a rare thrill, and over two days be applied to larger landscapes, guests at the Literary Festival will Planting for Tomorrow’s fine-tuned for beauty and profit. hear garden designers, gardeners, World: A Global Perspective Cost £310. See: ice.ca.ac.uk novelists and artists talk about The Northern Ireland Heritage their work and ideas in precious Gardens Trust 28th Annual Scotland’s Glorious Gardens panelled rooms. We are incredibly Conference cotland’s Garden and grateful to Edward and Sophie, Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 October SLandscape Heritage’s ‘Glorious whose house is never open to the ased at the National Botanic Gardens’ is a pilot project to public, for sharing its inspirations.’ BGardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, research and record historic Tickets are, as ever, limited to 150: the conference focus will be on the gardens and designed landscapes in this is an intimate event within a impact of climate change on our Scotland. The project focusses on family home; tickets for Houghton parks and gardens and how we can properties which are not listed in Hall sold out, so book now! Please meet the challenge. Among the the Historic Scotland Inventory of note that the Festival is on a Friday subjects that will be covered are Gardens and Designed Landscapes, and a Saturday, as on these days future weather patterns, pests and but which still retain evidence for the gardens at Helmingham are diseases, trade and plant health, their development and have some closed to the public. rising sea levels, biodiversity and conservation value. Weekend Ticket: £195 plant breeding for the future. In its first phase, the project Cost: tbc. See: www.nihgt.org covered gardens and designed Garden history: landscapes in the Clyde and Cambridge and walking the Avon Valley and Falkirk. The landscape at Madingley second phase was devoted to the Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 July development of a conservation aroline Holmes again leads the strategy and landowner guidance Cweekend, using the gardens notes for both areas. Funding was and landscape at Madingley Hall provided by Historic Environment as microcosms of the development Scotland and the Heritage of landscape and garden design Lottery Fund. Both phases relied for the last 500 years. Participants heavily on the hard work of local will study visual evidence in the volunteers under the supervision form of maps, the buildings and of the SGLH team. its current setting, while plants SGLH is currently preparing offer evidence of the international a third phase of the project, nature of the gardens. The course consisting of the preparation of a will conclude with a visit to the digital learning pack to facilitate University Botanic Gardens, the training of volunteers to Charles Boot Cambridge. research, survey and record sites, Cost £310. The 1927 Yew Topiary garden at and to promote the development See: ice.ca.ac.uk for details. Madingley ‘under repair’ in 2016. of a strategy to conserve historic landscapes and a conservation 1000 Years of the English Garden Garden history: guide for landowners. Testing of Oxford University Department Skill and ingenuity the digital pack will be carried out of Continuing Education Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October on sites in the East Lothian area. Sunday 9 to Saturday 15 August arlier and earlier evidence is The launch date for this three-year his one-week course will Eemerging of how horticultural project, for which we will again be Ttrace the evolution of the tools and practices manipulated recruiting volunteers, is April 2021. English garden from the Norman the earth into patterned fecundity For more details: sglh.org

34 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Special offer Garden History If, like us, you are still In our summer Journal 48:1, due July 2020 awaiting news of Historic England’s decision on which, ur summer issue, sent out in our next mailing, and with our if any, 20th-century designed OAnnual Report and GT NEWS 13, will be featuring articles by: landscapes will be placed on Christoph Oschatz on their Register, you might like The Use of English and German Pattern Books to see those included by the at the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz in Germany Twentieth Century Society in Adam Stout on their newly published: Consolation Myths: Glastonbury, Kingship and the Catholic Past 100 20th-Century Gardens in the Later Stourhead Landscape and Landscapes (RRP £25). Susan Oldham, Essay Prize winner 2019, on Available for only £20 Sir Robert Worsley’s ‘Reigning ’: Rediscovering the Early-Eighteenth- including free UK p&p. Call Century Garden at Appuldurcombe House 0141 306 3100 and quote and Dianne Barre on offer code CH2044. Mrs Hervey Makes a Flower Garden with Notes by : Mark Laird, Lara Mehling and Bonnie Tung on Schoch and ‘Schrubs’: Translations of a German Shrubbery Manual of 1794 Leanne Newman on Madeline Agar (1874–1967): from Lady Gardener to Landscape Architect and Suzanne Patman and Adrienne Armstrong on Restoration of the Tropical Ravine House, Belfast Botanic Gardens

Notes on some of the Contributions to NEWS 12

n this issue we have included and was used by permission of the Iseveral articles that have also author and the administrator of appeared either in the publications Hampshire GT, Jo Bolt. of some of the County Gardens Jill Plater and Paula Sewell’s Trusts or on their websites. pieces (pp.18 & 19) both come Tatton Park (p.14): This item from the ‘Snippets’ section of appeared in the January 2020 Essex GT’s website, where various issue of the Cheshire Gardens authors contribute on subject such Trust Newsletter (65) and was as garden history, trees, plants reproduced by permission of the and more, and not just in Essex, authors and editor. Barbara Moth clearly. You can sign up for regular said, “Very pleased that you have mailings and very good too. With picked this case up and will give it thanks to the ‘Snippets’ team. further publicity.” Marion Potter’s Picturesque landscapes (p.22): piece came from a back issue of Claire Sarkies is also a member of The Potting Shed, newsletter of the Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust, Walled Kitchen Garden network, who attended the Study Tour, very Issue 1, 2006, and seemed to tie much not a holiday! in rather neatly; how things can Vale of Aylesbury (p.26): Finally, change, so quickly. Gill Grocott is a member of the The Amisfield Preservation Trust Preservation Amisfield The Petersfield Physic Garden (p.17): Research and Recording team of Amisfield Walled Garden, E Lothian, From The spring 2020 issue of the Bucks GT and her article comes being recreated largely by volunteers. the Hampshire GT newsletter (8) for their Spring 2020 Newsletter.

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The HBGTP is managed by: Lectures Conferences GT events Study Tours Image courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust, 1987P68 ImageTrust, courtesy of Birmingham Museums

The Park at Hagley, Worcestershire, 1788, artist unknown Previewing a GHS visit in 1980 Michael Symes wrote: Finding My Place neglected as a landscape garden, ‘Lyttelton did not have to do much the Rediscovery and for a century and a half. The in the way of physical re-shaping Restoration of Hagley Park current ambitious restoration will of the landscape: Nature had Lecture by Joe Hawkins, return it to its 18th-century glory. presented him with an enviable at The Birmingham & Midland Hagley has now been designated situation, a basin the sides of which Institute, Birmingham a Grade I Registered Park, of were a ring of small hills within the 6pm, Wednesday 15 April exceptional national importance, estate, which gave views from their n his illustrated talk Hagley Park’s and Joe is currently writing up his summits to a panorama of scenery IHead of Landscape Joe Hawkins PhD thesis on the park. stretching as far as the Welsh will reveal his journey of discovery Cost: £10 for members, £12 mountains. Each of these hills was, during the ongoing restoration of this non-members. Ticket includes and still is, capped with a folly once celebrated Georgian landscape. a glass of wine/soft drink and or memorial of some kind: thus The Park’s main period of nibbles. Venue: The Birmingham there are the Obelisk, the Doric development occurred from & Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Temple of ‘Athenian’ Stuart, 1747, and, in its heyday, drew Street, Birmingham B3 3BS. the Column with the statue of visitors from around the world. To book use our website, or Frederick, Prince of Wales, the But, Hagley Park has lain, largely contact: [email protected] Rotundo and, of course, the well- known ruined Castle by Miller.’ GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 37 Gardens Trust Events 2020 thegardenstrust.org

A Collective Brainstorm for Unforgettable Gardens: save our heritage A view from the Palladian Bridge at Hagley, over the Cascade dam, destroyed by at The Gallery Cowcross Street accident in the mid-twentieth century, to the Rotuda beyond. 1.30pm, Thursday 16 April rom 2020 to 2022 the Gardens Visits to Hagley Park to the Obelisk and hill beyond FTrust will be working to a Hagley, Worcestershire (previous page), and to Sanderson theme of ‘Unforgettable Gardens: 2 to 5pm, Wednesday 29 April Miller’s ruined Castle (below). save our heritage’. The intention FULLY BOOKED Visitor accounts, literature, is to build on the interest in and now, due to high demand, poetry, as well as studies in garden history gathered by the 2 to 5pm, Thursday 30 April archaeology, hydrology and ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry wo great opportunities to ecology have all been drawn on Repton Festivals, and now turn Tsee the restoration works in to aid in the restoration of this the spotlight onto the landscapes progress at Hagley Park, that have once rightly celebrated eighteenth- themselves, the threats they face, once again opened-up long-lost century landscape. work done by people such as views, and allow the 21st-century Cost: £22 for members, yourselves to protect them, and visitor to experience this 18th- £25 non-members. how everyone can help save them century landscape as it was intended. Numbers are limited to 20 and for future generations. We very We will also be able to admire early booking is recommended to much want to use Unforgettable some of the restored landscape avoid disappointment. To register Gardens as an opportunity to turn views and features including interest: [email protected] the spotlight onto our collective the Palladian bridge, and its Sturdy footwear is very highly work, and the value of getting relationship with the Rotunda on recommended. The afternoon will involved. Let’s hope to recruit the hillside above. end with a cream tea at Hagley some more active volunteers and Other views were/are across Hall after the walk. supporters for the sector. As this collaborative celebration starts to take shape, we are hosting an Unforgettable Gardens brainstorm in London on 16 April for anyone who is interested in getting involved and would like to discuss their ideas or possibilities. Contact Linden Groves: [email protected] to book your free place.

Study tour to Palermo and the West of Sicily Sunday 19 to Sunday 26 April FULLY BOOKED

38 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 thegardenstrust.org Gardens Trust Events 2020

Sir Joseph Banks Bicentenary Lecture in London “To promote his Majesties purpose”: Joseph Banks and his Global Botanical Projects, 1770–1820 Professor Jordan Goodman at The Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street, London 6.30pm, Wednesday 17 June ot long after returning from Nthe circumnavigation of HMS Endeavour in 1771, Joseph Banks met George III at St James’s to discuss the results of this remarkable scientific voyage to the Pacific. It was the beginning of a very long friendship which lasted for more

© Howard Sooley © Howard than forty years and which Banks Prospect Cottage, Dungeness, c.1990. used to help make the royal gardens at Kew the finest of their kind. Alignments of Derek Jarman’s and early photography, he wrote Whenever an opportunity arose to Garden at Dungeness Derek Jarman (2011) and The influence a particular expedition, Lecture by Michael Charlesworth Modern Culture of Reginald Banks, who was extremely well- at & with the Garden Museum Farrer: Landscape, Literature, and connected, tailored it in many Tuesday 12 May Buddhism (2018). Michael first different ways to bring living plants erek Jarman’s move to visited Derek Jarman’s garden in from all over the world to Kew. DProspect Cottage, Dungeness, 1989, and has contributed the This talk to celebrate the 200th in 1987 integrated for him a chapter ‘Designing for Others’ to anniversary of Banks’s death will tell range of aesthetic experiences and Derek Jarman Protest! , Thames the story of several of these most works dating back to his time and Hudson with Irish Museum challenging projects. as a student in the early 1960s. of Modern Art, 2020. That Professor Goodman The garden he made becomes the exhibition ended in February is an Honorary seat of creativity in his published and transfers to Manchester Art Research Associate memoir, Modern Nature, and his Gallery (2 April to 31 August). at the Department film The Garden (1990). Jarman’s It is accompanied by additional of Science and garden ‘borrows’, in the technical projects at VOID, Derry and John Technology Studies, sense of landscape gardens, the Hansard Gallery, Southampton. University College setting of Dungeness; a setting Cost unconfirmed as we went to London. His book, as crucial to the process of press, please check our website. See Planting the World integration as the garden itself. A also Garden Museum exhibition, – Joseph Banks and number of differing types of work and raffle p.32. his Collectors, William Collins, of art — paintings, films, prose £20, published to coincide with memoirs and poetry — display the Women and Gardens at the 200th anniversary, will be dynamics of this process, rooted as Rewley House, Oxford available to purchase at the lecture. it is in the physical reality of the Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May Cost: £10 for GT & CGT garden and its materials. A few day places may still be members, £15 for non-members. Michael Charlesworth is available, but unfortunately all Book online at no extra cost from Professor of Art History at the accommodation is sold out. the Gardens Trust website with University of Texas at Austin. Contact Rewley House: Eventbrite, or pay at the door. A scholar of European garden [email protected] Contact: [email protected] history, the arts of landscape, or: 01865 270 380. or: 07817 128 147.

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 39 Gardens Trust Events 2020 thegardenstrust.org

Engraving of Chevening, Kent, by Johannes Kip (d.1722), after Thomas Badeslade (d.1742), published 1719 by John Harris.

Visit to Chevening Park combined with twentieth-century a new double avenue of lime trees Sevenoaks, Kent elements. The present house was on the north front. 2 to 5pm, Tuesday 30 June reputedly built to designs by Inigo Recent information published by Last few places available… Jones in about 1620 for the 13th the Jane Austen Society of America rare opportunity to visit the Lord Dacre, on the site of an suggests that Chevening Park and Ahidden gardens of Chevening earlier building. The house and its its parsonage house provided the House which has shaped the gardens were re-modelled again after basis for Rosings and Hunsford local and global landscape. The 1718, an engraving by Johannes Parsonage in Pride and Prejudice. house was owned by the Stanhope Kip shows a canal and extensive Jane’s uncle, Francis Austen, Family for 250 years but when the . Philip, the 4th Earl owned property in the area, and 7th Earl died in 1967, with no Stanhope, succeeded in 1816, he Jane visited her relations in Kent heir, the Chevening Estate Trust was a keen gardener and forester and on many occasions. was formed. Today the house’s spent thirty-seven years planting at Our garden tour will be conducted occupant is ‘in the gift of the Chevening, creating the basic layout by one of Chevening’s Garden Prime Minister’, and currently he’s of the present gardens and park. Guides, with further information, using it himself. Chequers is being The walled garden to the west plans, maps and photographs refurbished at present. of the house has unique double provided by our organiser. The 280-hectares park at hexagon brick walls which are Cost: £50 for GT and CGT Chevening is situated in the area ten-foot high, the glasshouses have members only (limited to 24 below the North Downs scarp on unfortunately been demolished. places) and will include an the junction of the Pilgrims’ Way Most recently the Park was afternoon tea from 4 to 5pm. and the coast road to London. devastated by the ‘Great Storm’ Booking via our website with Much of the Park is wooded and on 16 October 1987 and an Eventbrite, booking closes on 15 the 16-hectare Pleasure Grounds ambitious restoration programme June. Organiser Claire de Carle: retain features of the earlier design followed, including the planting of [email protected]

40 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 thegardenstrust.org Gardens Trust Events 2020

Sir Joseph Banks Bicentenary Lecture in Bath “To promote his Majesties purpose”: Joseph Banks and his Global Botanical Projects, 1770–1820 Professor Jordan Goodman at the Museum of Bath Architecture, Bath 6.30pm, Wednesday 8 July ot long after returning Nfrom the circumnavigation of HMS Endeavour in 1771, Joseph Banks met George III at St James’s to discuss the results of this remarkable scientific voyage May the much honord flower of Strelitz, the budding Myrtle of Affection, the to the Pacific. It was the beginning Elegant Emblem of Remembrance, & the Sacred Symbol of Recollection, Perpetually of a very long friendship which Encircle the Revered Name of Eliza. lasted for more than forty years May Her Royal Highness, under the mild & cheering influence of our Guiding and which Banks used to help Star, Ever Continue to Enjoy that Happiness Which Superior Talents, unexampled make the royal gardens at Kew the affability and Angelic Virtue, never fail to bestow; is the heartfelt wish of one who in finest of their kind. Whenever an Token of his Sincerity, has Subjoined his name, his seal and his flower. opportunity arose to influence a Jos: Banks, March 30 1814 particular expedition, Banks, who was extremely well-connected, College London. His new book, Book online at no extra cost tailored it in many different ways Planting the World – Joseph from the Gardens Trust website to bring living plants from all over Banks and his Collectors: An with Eventbrite or pay at the the world to Kew. This talk to Adventurous History of Botany , door. Contact: Sarah Fitzgerald: celebrate the 200th anniversary of William Collins, £20, published [email protected] Banks’s death will tell the story of to coincide with the 200th or: 01747 840 895 several of these most challenging anniversary, will be available to botanical projects. purchase at the lecture. Gardens Study Tour to Professor Goodman is an Cost: £8 for all, at the Museum of south-east Ireland Honorary Research Associate at Bath Architecture, The Countess of Sunday 28 June to Monday 6 July the Department of Science and Huntingdon’s Chapel, The Paragon, FULLY BOOKED Technology Studies, University The Vineyards, Bath BA1 5NA. Welwyn Garden City Study Day based at the United Reform Church, Welwyn Garden City, Herts 10am to 4.30pm, Saturday 25 July he Centenary of Welwyn situated about five-minutes walk TGarden City falls in 2020. from the station and there are The Gardens Trust is contributing several public car parks close by. to the city’s celebrations with an The study day will look at all exciting study day of lectures and a aspects of this pioneering city and town walk with the Hertfordshire the ideas which were to influence Gardens Trust. We will be based at numerous developments both in the United Reform Church, one of the UK and abroad throughout the the earliest churches in the town; 20th century, and into the 21st. members of the church will also be The morning session of lectures Newly commissioned road signs depict contributing to the celebrations in will be chaired by Dr Sarah a view of the garden city’s Howardsgate, 2020. The church is conveniently Rutherford, author of the created by artist Richard O’Neill.

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 41 Gardens Trust Events 2020 thegardenstrust.org

Welwyn Garden City memorial garden viewed from the north in May 2017. Picture by cmglee, Wikimedia Commons.

Shire Book on Garden Cities. development pressures, and question the project had to be bailed out by Our speakers: Kate Harwood, what the future holds for Welwyn. the Garden City Company who Hertfordshire Gardens Trust, who After a sandwich lunch, a walking then built 41 houses on six acres, has carried out extensive research tour will be led by members of demonstrating sixteen different in the vicinity; she will look at the Hertfordshire Gardens Trust. We systems of housing construction area pre-1919 including the work will focus on the central part of the with all the latest appliances and of Brown and Repton; Annabel town which was the first area to fittings installed. Downs, former archivist of the be developed and where Raymond Following the walk, we shall Landscape Institute, will examine Unwin’s ‘Garden City’ and Louis return to the venue for tea and the development of the town de Soissons’ ‘City Beautiful’ design cake. Day ends at 4.30pm. from 1919 to the 1950’s; Claire concepts can be seen. Houses there Cost: GT and CGT members de Carle, a garden historian who were built in numerous different £45 Non-members £60. Venue: grew up in the Garden City will styles some of which were part of United Reform Church, Church review how Welwyn has changed the Daily Mail Model Village. This Road, Welwyn AL8 6PS. Booking from the 1960’s to the millennium; was built on Meadow Green in via our website with Eventbrite, Shaun O’Reilly of the Welwyn 1922 as part of the ‘Ideal Home booking closes Monday 6 July. Garden City Society will enlarge Exhibition’. Plans for 100 houses Organiser Claire de Carle: on the emerging local Plan and were massively over-ambitious and [email protected] The Gardens Trust Annual Conference New Research Symposium and Annual General Meeting in and around Richmond and Wensleydale, North Yorkshire Mid-day, Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September

Bookings are now being taken via town of Richmond. All our visits the time. We will be based at the the GT website and Eventbrite are to privately-owned and run Holiday Inn just off the A1(M)/A66 (for postal & phone options, see below). historic listed or registered estates. at Scotch Corner (DL10 6NR) e are off to the Yorkshire We will have access to many areas and which has been attractively WDales this year, in not normally open to the public. refurbished and updated (with partnership with Val Hepworth The full Conference programme efficient double glazing) and offers and the Yorkshire County Gardens plus a request for any dietary ample conference facilities and Trust and centring on Wensleydale requirements and CGT affiliations on-site parking. There are also and the picturesque Georgian will be sent to delegates nearer some slightly cheaper rooms at

42 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 thegardenstrust.org Gardens Trust Events 2020 the nearby Travelodge. Darlington station is 20 minutes away by frequent local express bus or taxi to the hotels. Options and Prices Full weekend single: £394 Full weekend sharing: £347 Full weekend single Travelodge: £368 Full weekend non-residential £230 For other arrangements, queries and for anyone needing to book by post or phone, please contact Virginia Hinze: [email protected] or: 01273 844 819 Booking closes on Wednesday 5 August. Refunds by personal application up to date of closure. The ‘Temple’ at Aske Hall, was designed by William Kent (or Daniel Garrett) for Some costs may not be refundable. Sir Conyers D’Arcy in about 1745, and used for banqueting. Robinson’s Guide to Non-members are welcome at an Richmond, 1833 describes it as being ‘built on the exact model of a Hindoo Temple’. additional £50 which will give GT membership for one year. GT’s head of research, will explore to attend the AGM free of charge, Please remember to select your the inspiration to create designed tea will be available. Friday afternoon tour option when landscapes in the North Riding of Please let Teresa Forey know if booking. Tickets are available on a Yorkshire. Holiday Inn bar open you intend to attend the AGM: first come, first served basis. Saturday 5 September: [email protected] 9am: Coaches leave Holiday Inn or: 020 7251 2610. Programme and Travelodge to Aske Hall to 6.40: Coaches leave hotels for the Friday 4 September view the landscape surveyed by Conference Reception and Dinner Arrival and check-in from 12noon; ‘Capability’ Brown in 1769 and at The Station, formerly Richmond’s lunch available to purchase at the its William Kent temple. Tours Victorian railway station. hotel, or in adjacent Costa for conducted by Val Hepworth and Sunday 6 September: Travelodge delegates. Janette Ray 9am: Coaches leave hotels for 2.30: Coaches leave hotels for 12noon: Coaches leave Aske Hall Constable Burton, a grade I listed afternoon visits in Richmond. We to return to Holiday Inn. house built 1762–67 by John Carr are offering two alternative visits, 1pm: Finger buffet lunch with tea of York still owned by the Wyvill please make your choice when and coffee at Holiday Inn. family for whom it was built. booking: 2pm: New Research Symposium 11.30: Coaches leave Constable A: Private tour with the owner 4pm:Tea Burton for 14th-century Bolton of the ‘Picturesque’ landscape of 4.30: Annual General Meeting. Castle; lunch in the Great Hall Temple Grounds; or All members are of course welcome and view of the historically- B: Tour of Richmond’s Georgian informed re-created gardens. Theatrewith its early stage 1.30: Coaches leave Bolton Castle scenery and a visit to Millgate for nearby Bolton Hall. Guided House, a plantsman’s garden. walks with Val and Yorks GT 5.15: Coaches leave Richmond for around the surviving late 17th return to hotels. century gardens. 6.30: Bar open in Holiday Inn for 4pm: Coaches leave Bolton Hall purchase of pre-dinner drinks to return to Holiday Inn to collect 7.30: Dinner: Two course carvery cars and any stored luggage; (vegetarian alternative; wine The ‘Woodland Scene’, at Richmond’s arrival estimated to be c.5pm; tea available for purchase); with Georgian Theatre, reported to be the available. Depart. coffee. Louise Wickham, Yorks oldest surviving stage scenery in the world. Please contact Virginia Hinze:

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 43 Gardens Trust Events 2020 thegardenstrust.org [email protected] included in our visits there will Great Hall and at Millgate House or: 01273 844 819 with any be significant walking on rough garden. Please let us know when queries. Please note that, to access ground and steep steps at both booking if you are likely to have parts of the estates’ landscapes our lunch venue in Bolton Castle’s any difficulties with this. Study Tour to France Jardins à la Française: origins, variations, reinventions Friday 25 to Monday 28 September e are organising a long- Wweekend study trip to central France from 25 to 28 September 2020, led by landscape historian, author and curator, Dr Gabriel Wick. We shall meet the coach in central Paris on Friday morning and drive to Fontainebleau, a key site in the development of the classical French gardens in the late-16th and early-17th centuries. From there to Chateau de Courances, home of the Ganay de Courances Chateau family, with its renaissance water- Woods of Cély, meadows of Fleury, water of Courances… are all three marvels in France… gardens, reinterpreted by Henri and Achille Duchêne in the early- potager, and enjoy a wine tasting literature and guiding. If we 20th century, and restored by the before heading back to Paris to only attract 25 participants the family in the post-war period. connect with the evening Eurostar price will rise to £795 per person We will then spend the night to London. sharing or £875 for a minimum of in Orléans, before travelling The tour will cost a minimum twenty participants. along the River Loire, to the of £755 per person sharing, Unfortunately our travel agent newly reconstituted early 18th- dependent upon thirty paying requires Deposits of £200 to be century garden at the Chateau de participants, with £118 single made by the end of March, so Chambord, and the Chateau de room supplement, to include all despite better intentions, the Study Chaumont with its long-running bed and breakfast accommodation, Tour has been advertised on-line International Garden Festival. lunches, coach travel from Paris since mid-February. Applications to: We will also visit the Pagoda of and back to Paris, site entries, [email protected] Chanteloup, a poignant fragment of one of France’s lost 18th-century gardens (see GT Blog, 29 February 2020 for more on the pagoda). We shall overnight in Tours, which is conveniently located to tour the gardens of three other chateaux, Lude, Lathan and Grand Lucé, each significant for their history as well as their pragmatic and ecologically driven approaches to planting and maintenance. Finally, on Monday we shall visit Chateau de Valmer with its Musée du Louvre terraced-gardens, vineyards and La Pagode de Chanteloup, by Louis-Nicolas van Blarenberghe, 1778.

44 GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 Gardens Trust Events Committee We’re looking for new

Volunteershe Gardens Trust’s Education Tand Events (E&E) Committee would love to hear from you if you are tempted by Claire de Carle’s enthusiasm for what we do.

am Vice Chair and Volunteer ICo-ordinator for the Research & Recording project at The Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust, and a member of the GT’s Education and Events committee. In 2015 following the merger of the Association of Gardens Trusts and The Garden History Society, Virginia Hinze became the chair of the Events committee; she was keen to ensure that the GT offer events for members in all parts of the country, both reflecting its national remit and countering perceptions of a London bias. To

achieve this, the new committee set Charles Boot out to recruit members from across the country who could organise Richard Wheeler addresses members outside the Mausoleum at West Wycombe. events in the different regions. I already knew Virginia as she In the last five years I have conjunction with Lancashire had carried out training sessions organised a diverse series of events Gardens Trust, we enjoyed a trip to for the volunteers of our very for our members. The first was to Rivington to see how restoration successful Research & Recording Dropmore and Cliveden in Bucks; work was progressing on the project in Bucks. After one of this proved hugely popular as it Mawson terraced gardens created these sessions she approached me was likely to be the only chance to for Lord Leverhulme. For October about joining her new committee. visit Dropmore for the foreseeable 2019, I managed to acquire one After some reservations about future as it is now privately owned. of the very limited number of the commitment this might Last year we enjoyed a superb day visits to The Getty Library on entail, I signed up and have not in West Wycombe with Richard the Wormsley Estate, where the regretted it for one moment. I Wheeler (NT Garden Historian) archivist showed us some of the had recently completed an MA in which included visiting the most amazing treasures in the Garden History, at the University Hellfire Caves and Mausoleum, collection. This year I have secured of Buckingham, and was looking even Richard had not been inside a visit to Chevening, currently the for ways to get further involved the gates of the Mausoleum for temporary country residence of the with this subject that I feel so many years! Prime Minister while Chequers is passionately about. Further afield in 2018 in being renovated (see p.40).

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 45 Gardens Trust Events — Looking for NEW Volunteers

Several of the visits have been for future events, overseas tours, to places that I would otherwise publications, new garden history not have had the opportunity courses and training which will be of seeing, and a bonus has been of benefit to our membership and the numerous new friends and to members of CGTs. contacts I have made among Volunteer committee members members of CGTs from across the are offered advice in aspects of country. I have got to know other how to run an event, as well as out members of the E&E committee of pocket expenses such as train who are from a diverse range of fares to meetings and expenses backgrounds; they bring not only incurred in organising events. And different — and highly valuable- the organiser can claim a free place

— skills to the table but also to attend his or her event. The Charles Boot personal knowledge of regional events are all serious but we hope Members pause for thought on one of activities and personalities. The jolly good fun too, and relatively Thomas Mawson’s bridges at Rivington, Education and Events Committee easy to organise via the internet. here also seen from below. (we successfully joined forces Using the Eventbrite booking a couple of years ago as many system has made things so much aspects of our work overlap) meets easier to organise! three or four times a year at The If I have whetted your appetite Garden Trust’s head office in and you think you could help E&E Farringdon, London. The office is to deliver its aims, please contact well situated for public transport me: [email protected] links. We always have lively or Virginia Hinze: discussions as well as making plans [email protected]

President Ex-officio Members of Board Dominic Cole CMLI FIOH VMM OBE Joanna Davidson Welsh Historic Gardens Trust Vice Presidents Chloe Bennett Scotland’s Garden & Landscape Heritage Mr Alan Baxter, Mrs Susan Campbell, Sir Richard Carew Pole, Mrs Gilly Drummond OBE, Staff Mr Robert Peel, Mr John Sales, Administrator: Louise Cooper Mrs Steffie Shields, Sir Tim Smit KBE Finance Officer & CGT Co-ordinator: Teresa Forey-Harrison Conservation Officer:Margie Hoffnung Chairman of Board Conservation Casework Manager: Alison Allighan Dr James Bartos Strategic Development Officer: Linden Groves Members of Board HLP Officers: Tamsin McMillan, Sally Bate Sarah Dickinson Dr Marion Harney Chair, Conservation Committee Editors Virginia Hinze Co-Chair, Education & Events Committee Editor Garden History: Dr Barbara Simms Peter Hughes QC Editor GT News: Charles Boot Dr Sally Jeffery David Lambert Membership enquiries Dr David Marsh Co-Chair, Education & Events Committee phone: 01787 249 286 Maureen Nolan Honorary Secretary email: [email protected] Thadian Pillai GDPR: [email protected] Peter Waine Lisa Watson Vice Chairman; Honorary Treasurer; Advertising enquiries: Hall McCartney Chair, Administration & Finance Committee phone: 01462 896 688 email: [email protected]

46 GTGT NEWS NEWS 11 12 Autumn Spring 20192020 GT events diary 2020 Wednesday 15 April Hagley Park Lecture by Joe Hawkins at The Birmingham & Midland Institute Thursday 16 April A Collective Brainstorm for ‘Unforgettable Gardens’ at The Gallery, Cowcross Street 19 to 26 April Study tour to Palermo and the West of Sicily: FULLY BOOKED Tuesday 21 April Burghley 500 Symposium, The Garden Museum (see p.32): GT member’s discount Wednesday 29 April Visit to Hagley Park 1, Hagley, Worcestershire: FULLY BOOKED Thursday 30 April Visit to Hagley Park 2, Hagley, Worcestershire Sunday 3 May Closing date, Call For Papers, for the New Research Symposium Sunday 3 May Closing date for submissions for the Mavis Batey Essay Prize Tuesday 12 May Derek Jarman’s Garden, Lecture by Michael Charlesworth at the Garden Museum 29 to 31 May Women and Gardens Conference, Rewley House, Oxford: FULLY BOOKED Wednesday 17 June The Joseph Banks Bicentenary lecture in London by Jordan Goodman Tuesday 30 June Visit to Chevening Park, Sevenoaks, Kent 28 June to 6 July Study Tour to south-east Ireland: FULLY BOOKED Wednesday 8 July The Joseph Banks Bicentenary lecture in Bath by Jordan Goodman Friday 17 July Closing date for nominations, the Gilly Drummond Volunteer of the Year Award Saturday 25 July Welwyn Garden City Study Day 4 to 6 September Summer Conference and AGM 2020, Richmond and Wensleydale, North Yorkshire Saturday 5 September New Research Symposium Saturday 5 September The Gardens Trust Annual General Meeting 25 to 28 September Study Tour to France, Jardins à la Française: origins, variations, reinventions Details and booking information for all these events can be found inside on pages 37 to 44, or look at our website for updates: thegardenstrust.org/events for updates

GT News correspondence and items to The Gardens Trust head office, headed: GT news or email the editor Charles Boot: [email protected]

Please make a note of our new publications schedule GT News copy deadlines: 1 February, 1 June & 1 October, distribution: mid March, mid July with our Journal & Annual Report; mid November with our Journal.

GT News ISSN 2398-3248 New design by Topics, editor and layout Charles Boot. Printed by Lavenham Press, 47 Water Street, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9RN

GT NEWS 12 Spring 2020 47 Project5_Layout 1 05/03/2020 16:40 Page 1