KENT
GARDENS TRUST
NEWSLETTER
QUARRY
GARDENS AND THE PICTURESQUE
The smooth, rolling grassland of a Capability Brown landscape descending from the grand, classical mansion to a man made lake in the valley below, with woodland belts on the skyline, is one of the great achievements of British culture. In its time, this was a revolutionary way of thinking, the ultimate revolt against mainland European formal gardens.
We have only a few examples in Kent of work by Brown and his followers, such as Chilham Castle, Leeds Castle, Danson Park and Mote Park. Even with their later additions of Victorian planting, golf courses and leisure centres they still retain something of their grandeur and majesty.
Like every ground breaking movement, once established, and in the case of Brownian landscapes, hugely popular, another movement was started to say that this was all too clinical and did not immortalise the true beauties of nature. This movement was the Picturesque. A group of aesthetes and thinkers began to describe a more rugged and wilder landscape with more natural features. This meant more rocks, irregular trees and characterful lakes and streams. One of these developments was the introduction of the quarry garden . This was both natural and rugged and practical. You could quarry the stone for your house and make the quarry into your garden.
We have one
of the finest examples in Kent at Scotney Castle. When the house was
built in 1835 it was placed on top of the hill and the stone was quarried just
down the hill, towards the old medieval castle. The viewpoint above the
quarry gives a sweeping view of the landscape and focuses on the ruins of the
original Scotney Castle in the valley bottom. The ruins were restored and
improved on and the moat was cleaned out to create a proper picturesque
ruin. The view is dramatised as there is no foreground to it, just the
drop down to the quarry and then the castle in the valley bottom.
The quarry at Scotney
Watercolour
by Edward Hussey
Within the quarry some of the vertical quarry face is left exposed while in other places banks and ledges are left to create places to plant alpines or ferns, depending on the aspect. There is a gentle, winding path into the quarry, at the lower side, and a series of sweeping and irregular plant beds for shrubs and larger herbaceous plants. From the lowest level in the quarry bottom a flight of stone steps leads you up to the top and the viewpoint. The recent restoration by the National Trust reveals the form of the garden now that it is freed from overgrowth.
Scotney has a sister quarry garden at Mabledon, just south of Tonbridge. The Regency, picturesque garden was made around 1820 in the grounds of a large house built in 1805. A view of 1810 shows it to be in the, then, less fashionable Brown style with grass right up to the house. The stone is Tunbridge Wells sandstone and in this area is a wonderful rusty brown colour. The quarry is about 50 metres (55 yards) to the north east. It is in fairly level ground and rather broad and a maximum of only some 6 metres (20 feet) deep. This is quite different to the Scotney Castle setting and the Mabledon quarry garden must have been laid out as part of the walk round the grounds.
We often forget how important these walks through the grounds were for the owners of big houses, their families and friends. They needed walks that were clean and free from mud and they would not dirty their fine shoes and clothes. We saw this at the recent KGT outing to Smiths Hall at West Farleigh where the network of paths is a wonderful survivor of a garden layout from the 1690 s and there is an 18C woodland path around the perimeter and a viewpoint over the house.
The quarry garden at Mabledon is clearly visible on the Ordnance Survey first edition map, surveyed in 1865. The small building above it on the northern side would have been a gazebo to rest or take tea overlooking the garden. The meandering walks would have been through groups of rocks and beds of the latest flowers and shrubs. The vertical rock face would have created a dramatic backdrop to the walk.
Quarry gardens are typically Picturesque but as we have seen they are also practical. The stone to build your house could come from nearby and then made into a fashionable part of the garden.
The written
and photographic evidence at Mabledon is slim so we are fortunate that the
garden at Scotney Castle is well documented. Any more information about
Mabledon would be welcome to help with the proposed restoration.
Tom La Dell
PLANNING MATTERS
KGT GETS INVOLVED
Over the last two years we have been asked by some local authorities to advise on planning applications affecting historic gardens or their setting. We have responded to over 35 requests including four especially interesting cases concerning important Kentish gardens. Details of these are given below. The pressure for development in gardens increases all the time. Our aim is to identify gardens which are of historic significance even if they are not listed on the English Heritage Register or our own Compendium of Kent Parks Gardens and provide information to the planning authorities which will help them to prevent destruction or damage to the sites through insensitive development. .
The first of these was a very important public park in Tunbridge Wells. Dunorlan Park originally had a Victorian House with kitchen garden, surrounded by formal gardens within a large informally laid out park. When the District Council acquired the park, some of the estate was sold off to help fund the deal. This included land later developed for housing and fronting Pembury Road adjoining the entrance lodge. A developer proposed to build a large residential home that, due to the bulk, design and height would be very visible from the park and contrast with its informal layout. Since the site was originally part of the Park, it is likely that the ground level of the site and the mature trees formed part of the original layout. We objected to the design and as a result the developers withdrew the application and resubmitted a less bulky proposal but of a similar classical design. Since this would still be visible from the park we have maintained our objection. We now await developments. KGT comments are on the website: www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk under reference 07/04273. Check it out.
Long Barn
Sevenoaks Weald was the home of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson
before the bought Sissinghurst The garden was designed by them and is therefore
of great historic significance. We were asked to comment on proposals to change
the area now used as a vegetable garden and the entrance to the house and
garden. We made suggestions intended to change the garden layout as little as
possible and to ensure that changes to the entrance were as far as possible in
keeping with the original building and what is known of the Nicolsons' style
so that it will be in harmony with the garden.
Another case
concerned the remnants of a large, primarily Victoria, garden at Angley
House Cranbrook where there was a proposal to demolish a C20 house
and replace it with a modern but classically designed house on its site.
Advice was given but the important factor from the KGT point of view was the
addition of a previously unknown garden to our garden heritage list. The
new owners are keen to maintain the character of the garden and we have offered
further advice if needed.
The most
recent garden visited very recently is Syndale Park Faversham.
Within the remnants of a park and formal garden there is a proposal to build a
mixed development. We would like to see a development allowing for some
restoration of the adjacent garden and to this end, we supported Swale Council
in the designation of a conservation area and hope to be involved in further
negotiations soon.
We are being given the opportunity to influence the decision making process in a positive way as well as raising the KGT profile in the County. We are convinced of the usefulness of this service and will be seeking to expand it in order to advise other district councils.
At present this work is being done by Peter Cobley (whose experience as Conservation Officer at Sevenoaks is invaluable) and Elizabeth Cairns. We are looking for volunteers who would be prepared to respond to consultation requests by email after assessing the applications from the council s web site or by post. Anyone interested should contact Elizabeth Cairns and join the volunteers being trained for the Tunbridge Wells Historic Gardens Project (see next page).
DISTRICT COUNCIL S ROLE AND INFORMATION
It may be of general interest to KGT members to explain a little about how local authorities work in ensuring that concerns of residents or other local interests are taken into account. The ulterior motive for us is to hopefully encourage other trust members to volunteer to help.
There are twelve District Councils in Kent and one Unitary Authority (Medway). The way they hold information and make it available to the public varies but all are required to set up computer based information systems. As an example Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has a web site (www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk). A wide range of detailed information is available ranging from finding out who your councillor is, registering complaints to current planning applications.
It may be of interest to explain a little about the process involved in accessing the information. If for example you wish to find out about a development proposal near you, then this is the way to go about it:-
1. Log in to www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk (or your own district council website)
2. Go to Planning Information on menu to left hand side and click on it.
3. Go to blue panel marked public access and click on it.
4. Scroll down until you reach Application Search and click on it.
5. Fill in application reference missing off prefix TW and click on search .
6. Check it s the application you wish to view and click on click to view arrow.
7. Go to light blue panel marked associated documents and click on it.
8. In new panel, go to View associated documents and click on it. Here you will find all the items submitted for planning consent including all drawings.
If you wish to submit comments on any application this can be done by email; planningcomments@ tunbridgewells.gov.uk.
Peter Cobley
Veteran Trees
Veteran trees are amazing and an integral part of our natural heritage. They are the old trees in woodland, parkland and the gnarled oaks in the hedgerows. Our ancestors valued these trees as vital assets; they were part of their subsistence and economy as well as objects of religious and social interest. In modern day Kent few trees are maintained and managed for their produce. Many more have been felled to make room for development, intensive agriculture and forestry or for safety reasons.
Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in these ancient trees. Their biological, historical and cultural importance is slowly being recognised together with their aesthetic appeal and the unique contribution they make to the landscape. These trees are as much a part of our heritage as stately homes, cathedrals and works of art and are the favoured subject of many important paintings and engravings. Kent is lucky to have more than its fair share and a high proportion of Ashford Borough s ancient woodland are over 400 years old. Veteran trees also provide a vital home for many insects, birds and bats.
However, there is not much information
currently available on the location and status of veteran trees within the
Borough. However, this is hopefully all about to change. The
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers in Kent (BTCV) have received a grant
from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out a veteran tree survey of the
Borough, which will help save and protect these magnificent trees for generations
to come.
- BTCV are looking for
volunteers to spend a few hours a month surveying and recording veteran
trees within the Ashford Borough.
- No previous experience
is necessary as BTCV will be providing all volunteers with free training
on tree related subjects. All survey equipment and tree identification
guides will also be provided for volunteers.
- During the course of the
two-year project, BTCV will also be organising guided walks, talks,
woodland open days and green woodworking events across the Borough.
If you know of an ancient tree in your local area or would like more information please contact:
Virginia Hodge, BTCV, Singleton Environment Centre, Wesley School Road, Ashford, TN23 5LW.
Tel: 01233 666519. Email: v.hodge@btcv.org.uk www.btcv.org/kent
VISIT
TO SMITHS HALL
We were blessed with a beautiful afternoon on 1st June to enhance a visit to Smith s Hall, West Farleigh a fascinating historic garden by kind permission of the owner, Stephen Norman.
The house asserts itself temptingly behind the boundary wall as you circle past the Tickled Trout to the car park. Arriving early, we dawdled down through the flower gardens to assemble for the tour with Lee Brayshaw, the Head Gardener.
With visual aids to history (Kypp s engraving of Smith s Hall and its gardens 1719 and the 1st edition of the OS map 1865) we were able to see that much of the formal gardens still demonstrate the antecedents of their design; and also how the Norman family and Lee have set about adapting those labour intensive Carolingian/Augustan/Victorian pleasure grounds and kitchen gardens into something sustainable with a much reduced gardening team. So for instance, malus and lavender now live in the bed inside the perimeter wall in the formal gardens beside of the house and ;a massively long peony border discrete to itself shines its glory in May/June and can then be bypassed in favour of iris borders, a rose garden (difficult in thin free draining soil and undergoing restoration), abundant herbaceous borders colour themed and flanking an immaculately mown grass path: a sunken garden reminding us of Great Dixter is a recent addition to commemorate a Norman anniversary. We further enjoyed a stroll uphill through the tulip tree avenue around the meadow area of the park - sheep grazing& such a contrast to the historic formality we saw first! There we could still see the 18C walk around the preimeter of the park.
Of course we finished with a sumptuous tea contributed by many but ably co-ordinated by Sue Chipchase and her team.
My thanks to everyone for a delightful afternoon.
Jane Streatfeild
VOLUNTEERS
HISTORIC GARDENS
REVIEW
Since the last edition of the Newsletter there has been a considerable amount of progress. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been awarded funding from English Heritage and The High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit for a review of the information held in the Compendium of Kent Parks & Gardens. Kent Gardens Trust will participate in this work by recruiting and training volunteers to undertake research into parks and gardens which are of historic significance.
The aims of the Project are
- to increase protection
for gardens and designed landscapes
- increase awareness among
owners of the history and significance of their gardens
- to provide more accurate
information about sites
- to enable Kent Gardens
Trust to provide support and advice to planning authorities and owners and
- to promote best practice
for listing sites in the south east
We have had an excellent response to our request for volunteers. A meeting was held at the end of July attended by 14 potential researchers. Paul Cuming, KCC's Historic Environment Record Manager, described how the Project would work. It would focus on sites of historic interest which are not on the English Heritage Register. There are about 23 such sites listed in the Kent Compendium and more may be added. Volunteers will be allocated sites and will carry out research in the archives and site surveys. Their work will be reviewed by a professional garden historian who will be appointed as Project Consultant. This will provide invaluable training and experience.
An initial launch and training day is planned for & .. when volunteers will be given a taste of what researching a historic garden involves with talks by a garden historian and a garden archaeologist and a sample of a survey of a historic site. Those interested will be able to enrol formally for the training programme.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering and
would like to attend the launch should apply to Elizabeth Cairns on 01622
850240 or elizabeth.cairns@btinternet.
A THANK YOU
TO
TOM WRIGHT
The Trustees have recently decided to honour Tom Wright by appointing him to be an Honorary Vice-President of Kent Gardens Trust. Tom was a lecturer in Landscape at Wye College for 40 years and an inspirational teacher. He has advised on the restoration of many historic gardens including Hampton Court and Cobham Hall. He was a founder trustee of Kent Gardens Trust and his continued support of the Trust has been invaluable. Members who joined Tom s guided tour of the restored Privy Gardens at Hampton Court and last year s visit to Cobham Hall will have been impressed by Tom s erudition so lightly born
LETTER
Some hope for the future of horticulture
I would like to respond to the letter sent to you by Geraldine Fish in your spring newsletter.
I agree with Geraldine on the lack of horticultural courses available for students aged 16-18 but if they are determined they will find a way. Many garden centres employ young people and this is an excellent way to establish if this really is the work they want to do. An article in the spring issue of the National Trust magazine stated that historic gardens are under threat from a shrinking workforce of skilled gardeners and asked what the National Trust is doing to prevent a crisis and ensure a better future for Britain s horticultural heritage? The answer it seems is a three year training scheme known as Careership where students are trained under the guidance of experienced head gardeners and their staff equipped with an understanding of historic gardens and the skills to care for them . This scheme has been made possible with the support of the National Gardens Scheme.
Geraldine also states that many town councils have closed their parks and gardens centres thus depriving young people of an apprenticeship. Increasingly these councils and business estates use contract gardeners many of whom in my experience have very limited knowledge of looking after plants and trees. Not knowing when to cut back trees and bushes and the difference between a dandelion and a cowslip are some of my gripes with these garden contractors especially where I live.
I am also encouraged by the establishment of schools which are environmental centres and are used by children who have little experience of the countryside. I like to think that there are many schools which are actively encouraging an interest in gardening in your people. I do hope so.
Barbara Cannell
Horton Kirby, Kent
TRUST EVENTS
2008/9
6th November 2008 7.15 p.m.
Matfield Village Hall
Me, my life and my Allotment
An illustrated talk by Andy Garland
Andy
is the charismatic presenter of the gardening programme on Radio Kent on Sunday
mornings. He is a passionate cultivator of his allotment and will talk about
this and the history of the allotment movement.
17th February 2009 7.30
Lenham Village Hall
Managing historic gardens in the modern world
Most
historic gardens were created in an era when staff were skilled, plentiful and
lowly paid. Now owners struggle to manage their gardens to a high standard and
in keeping with the original design without large numbers of qualified and
experienced staff. Jane Cordingley, head gardener at Eltham Palace, garden
designer and lecturer, will give her imaginative ideas on how to plant and
maintain historic gardens on a limited budget. She will suggest ways in which
economies can be made without sacrificing the special history and significance
of the garden.
25th March 2009 11 a.m.
Guided Tour of the Millenium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place
We have rescheduled this visit and will arrange a coach if enough members request it. The Millenium Seed Bank Project has set up a worldwide network for the conservation of seed from the wild as insurance against the loss of species. Modern technology enables seeds to be kept alive for hundreds of years. We shall be able to see behind the scenes to understand how this is done.
Lunch is included and the gardens at Wakehurst Place will be at their best
Numbers will be limited to 20
July 2009
Visit to Godinton House and Knowlton Court
These two wonderful gardens are fine examples of Sir Reginald Blomfield s formal style, a reaction against the fashion for informal planting promoted by William Robinson. We shall be able to see the original plans for the garden.. We will have lunch at Godinton and tea at Knowlton
A bus will be arranged to take us between the two gardens if enough members request.
21st October 2009 10.30 a.m.
A celebration of Humphrey Repton at Cobham Hall
Our
speakers will be Tom Wright and Stephen Daniels both experts on the great
garden designer who worked for so long at Cobham. Tom Wright who has been
involved with the restoration of the gardens at Cobham for many years will talk
about Repton s work there. Stephen Daniels is Professor of Cultural Geography
at Nottingham University and wrote a magnificent account of Repton s life and
work in 1999 will talk on Humphrey Repton and the Art of Landscape. Lunch
is included.
3rd December 2009 7.30
Lenham Village Hall
Eastern Influences on English Gardens
Tom Turner, Landscape Architect and Garden Historian teaches at Greenwich University and is the author of many books including Garden History Philosophy & Design 2000 BC to 2000 AD will talk on how the opening up of China and Japan to the West in the 18C affected the design and planting of gardens.
Please apply for tickets on the enclosed form