NEWSLETTER April 2018 No. 52 Repton 200 celebrations Hatchlands Park Repton’sTrail Limited places left for our Repton Study Day on 17 May 2018 at Hartsfield Humphry Repton’s Trail Despite subsequent alterations and Repton at additions to the landscape, the layout Manor with a private visit of the garden and park remains much as envisaged by Repton: a combination of a pleasure ground Hatchlands around the house and an extensive park that belies the fact that central to Betchworth House and London is only 25 miles away. SURREY GARDENS TRUST garden H U MP Key H Follow the trail in the order Repton’s Trail Ancient Trees G 2 sugested below and imagine Red coloured ribbons have R Repton’s vision as he sought Grotto Pond Repton’s Proposal N been tied around these to improve this landscape. I Y Repton found the approach trees for easy identifcation. Please look out for notice Original Drive from Epsom and London Please look out for them on boards at key destinations. T ‘objectionable’ with ‘…a view of your walk. Extracts from the Red Book “...so few places will be so an unsightly pond which gives Please note the garden is closed Monday, Friday, and Saturday from are included in italics below R the house the appearance of 1 Apr–31 Oct, and all week in the winter. A and a copy of the Red Book dampness…’ and rerouted the On these days, points 2, 3 and 4 can be seen from the parkland side of the is available to purchase in compleatly changed in Character approach to avoid the view of fence, and point 5 can be seen from the track. E the Hatchlands shop in the R the Canal or Grotto Pond on courtyard. Fuller’s Hill. It was removed by as Hatchlands” P Follow the path to the right Lord Rendel in the late 1800s. B from the kiosk and enter the 4 7 For alternative formats, please call NT Sign: The earthworks of parkland through the double T the Canal and its associated London Plane A new approach E gates opposite what was landscaping are still clearly and Holm Oak and drive once the Kitchen Garden. O evident. Numerous trees remain from Sweet Chestnut L 1 Now turn around and face the view that Repton would have so much admired at Repton stated his approach N the house. E Original Drive Hatchlands. A London Plane ‘enters at the most natural place, into Hatchlands by the house dates to before that, where the park comes in 3 C Repton. contact with the road; and the Repton disapproved both of Façade of the house trees already standing, with the the drive to the house, from 5 new plantations by the road side, ✷ the very proximate boundary Repton recommended a and that in the pleasure ground ✷ along the main road, and stone coloured render (as Gravel Paths to envelope the greenhouse, will the view from the house evidenced in Sketch No II) conceal the house from almost Sketch No 1V 1 to the kitchen garden wall. thus allowing a proposed every part of the road’. 9 10 8 He described it as ‘a palace re-routed approach from New carriageway approaches 7 apparently dropt by accident Guildford to ‘enter across a land Greenhouse and view Enclosing the grounds 1 at the farm … commanding the were indeed undertaken in the midst of a sheep walk’. 5 by Sumner and Rendel from dining room Repton believed that inner 2 8 He explained that ... ‘so few most interesting views of park 1 along the lines of Repton’s fences should be either ~ and distant country will ascend In Sketch No IV, of the view places will be so compleatly changed in Character as a knoll, where it bursts upon the proposal. from the eating room, ‘the completely sunk or visible Repton believed ‘the Hatchlands, when the present house…’. fat uninteresting plain, is because ‘…when the top of magnifcence of the house gate is entirely done away, or 8 broken by a trelliage [sic] the rail is seen peeping over As you can see neither requires a space of pleasure at least only made a footgate Greenhouse…’. Repton was a green bank, it looks like the Sumner nor any subsequent ground, so ample, as to Clumps of Trees to connect the house with the a ‘gentleman’ and had an afectation of a sunk fence owners undertook Repton’s distinguish the habitation kitchen garden.’ in Parkland easy entrée to polite society, without its utility’. A ha-ha was proposed improvement. of man, from the range of often dining with his clients still there in 1945, believed to NT Sign: Here you can see animals.’ He felt that the Oak rather than being relegated have been flled in as in poor the old drive lined with existing unprotected gravel The series of land acquisitions to the servant or steward’s repair. There is still evidence borders of now overgrown walks that led to ‘a long in 1803 and 1817-21 resulted in ofce of some large estate. of the old driveway. A Yew trees. Explore belt’ (i.e. Fanny Boscawen’s landscaping of the parklands He was extremely well National Trust Survey found Walk and Dell) were entirely with planting of scattered known and even received remains of crushed brick that insufcient. He proposed that trees in the older parts of a cameo appearance in may have been associated Humphry Repton’s the gravel walk ‘lead to certain the park and clumps of trees Jane Austen’s Mansfeld with the former drive and ha- objects which might interest the in the new parts to the east. Park, when Miss Bertram ha to the east of the house. attention. Of these I suppose the These new plantations were advises Mr Rushworth to You will now have arrived fower garden in the dell, and the intended to conceal the house seek out Mr. Repton for the back at the courtyard Vision for Hatchlands proposed Greenhouse (see item from almost every part of improvement of his grounds. where you can fnd the 9 below) to be the principal.’ the road. The use of trees as There is no evidence that shop, cafe, toilets and The Dell is listed in the individuals and in open groups the Greenhouse with its pre-loved book shop. Conservation plans and it is to frame views and the new accompanying trees and hoped that restoration work approach is consistent with fowering shrubs was ever will be undertaken in the Repton’s design principles. built. next few years. NT Sign: Archaeological investigations have found 6 an old foundation on this site but it is not believed Beeches to be related to the Two fne specimens of Beech Greenhouse. still exist in Fanny Boscawen’s Walk embraced by Repton in his pleasure ground walk. These would most likely have been planted by Fanny Sketch No 11 Boscawen. Our exciting joint project with the National Trust at Hatchlands Park has come to fruition with the anticipated leaflet setting out a Repton Trail Contact [email protected] through the park and gardens now complete and available for visitors to directly to avoid disappointment explore. Boards at strategic positions in the landscape explain Repton’s vision with reference to his Red Book commentary and watercolour illustrations. The true significance of this chapter in the history of the Immerse yourself in the life and work of house, its gardens and wider landscape is celebrated with a beautiful Repton and enjoy a rare visit to privately leatherbound reproduction of his Red Book on display in the house. In owned Betchworth House and its Repton addition, copies of the Red Book are available to buy in the National Trust designed landscape. The day will consist of shop. presentations about Repton’s life and work, Betchworth and the surrounding properties Our breakfast and walk through the park was sold out and fifty members during the time of Repton and an overview of and guests enjoyed a beautiful sunny morning exploring the landscape Repton's proposals for Betchworth House. with the National Trust Park manager and her team. This was an After lunch at Hartsfield Manor Hotel, we will opportunity to hear how this landscape is managed, through a have a private tour of Betchworth House and conservation management programme looking at all its elements both grounds and afternoon tea by kind permission designed and natural to ensure that it has a sustainable future. of Lady Hamilton. If you were not able to join us do go along to Hatchlands, pick up a leaflet at the kiosk as you arrive and walk the trail. The bluebells will be glorious. !1 Events Our educational remit also encompasses a New Chair’s Message comprehensive and varied programme of lectures, study days and garden visits. Under the enthusiastic and dedicated guidance of Sheri Sticpewich and her team, 2018 will be no exception. News In addition to our ‘usual business’, at the beginning of March we became the principal charity facilitating a hugely important project to digitise and make freely available at a high definition in colour, Gertrude Jekyll’s internationally important Surrey Archive, an extensive set of papers and drawings held at The Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley, perhaps better known as the Cherrill Sands (left ) and Sarah Dickinson (right) Reef Point Collection. More about this below. working together at the Betchworth Archive Please do take another look at the website at www.surreygardenstrust.org.uk and explore the pages, share In January, Cherrill Sands stepped down as our Chair after your awe and enthusiasm with friends and neighbours and two years in the role and I would like to extend our warmest give some thought to whether you would like to get a little thanks for all her hard work and her huge commitment to more involved, I would love to hear from you: the Trust.