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Garden Name: St. Paul's Walden Bury
Last Modified: 19/01/2011
Garden ID: 0051

pic: 0051_stpaulswalden.jpg

Owner: Mr & Mrs Simon Bowes-Lyon
Address:
Whitwell
Hitchin

Postcode: SG4 8BP
County: Hertfordshire

tel: 01438 871218
fax: 
website: www.stpaulswaldenbury.co.uk
email: spw {at} boweslyon.demon.co.uk

Features: 


English Heritage Grade:
I

Opening Times:
Open 2011 for Charity on Sundays 3rd April, 8th May, 12th June 2pm to 7pm
(other days by appointment).

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
April - June

To see: 
Rhododendrons, magnolia.

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £4; Child £1.
£7.00 if by appointment

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: No
Plants for Sale: No
Lunches: No
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: No
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: No

Other Facilities:



Designer: 
Description of Garden:
The formal woodland garden, covering about 60 acres, was much influenced by French tastes, and is one of the few surviving examples of gardens of this genre, based on a patte d'oie (goose foot) design. Long rides lined with clipped beech hedges lead to temples, statues, lake and ponds, and to an outdoor theatre. The temple by the lake was designed by William Chambers. At the far end of the long ride opposite is another temple designed by Wyatt.

There are seasonal displays of snowdrops, daffodils, irises, magnolias, rhododendrons, woodland paeonies and lilies, shrub roses. Many of the rhododendron species from the Himalayas and SW China. make a spectacular sight in a good flowering year. Wild flowers are encouraged: banks of cowslips above the lake and bluebells in the woods make a good show, and spotted orchids thrive. They are allowed to seed before the grass in which they grow is cut, so there is a natural look in some parts of the garden in early summer. 

The garden is Grade 1 listed. It is described as one of the best surviving English landscape gardens. (e.g. the Telegraph, 25th August 2007) 


History: 
The gardens were designed by the owner Edward Gilbert, in 1720 - 1730, based on formal French patte d'oie (goose foot) design, Gilbert's grand-daughter, Mary Eleanor Bowes married John Lyon, Earl of Strathmore, and the house and garden still belong to the Bowes Lyon family. It was the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The original garden design remains the same. The hedges and avenues have been replanted in the same positions as before. More recent additions do not intrude on the original design, and the woodland garden developed since 1950, has, amongst other plants, rhododendrons and magnolia.

Local Inns: 
The Bull,
Maiden's Head
Strathmore Arms

Accomodation: 


Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Whitwell