Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian gardening comes together in the recently restored gardens of Hestercombe in Somerset
Hestercombe is a unique collection of three gardens spanning three centuries of garden history and design. All have undergone acclaimed restoration works, and today provide important examples of the different styles employed in gardening across our recent history. The Georgian Landscape Garden lies in a combe or valley to the North of the house. This was created between 1750 and 1786 by the then owner of Hestercombe, Coplestone Warre Bampfylde. In 1992 a local man to the area, Philip White, re-discovered the Landscape Garden and his vision of restoring what was a totally overgrown and derelict area is now being fully realised. Flowers play only a small part in a Landscape garden as the were designed primarily to give the impression of an idealised classical landscape with lakes, temples and grottoes. Trees and shrubs are relied upon to create the right atmosphere. Set in over 40 (forty) acres this Arcadia provides variety and surprises at every turn. The eighteenth (18th) century garden style delights in changes of texture and mood and at regular intervals seats, small buildings and viewing areas ensure the visitor can enjoy a composed view in the style of a landscape painting – hence the name Landscape Garden. The Victorian Terrace on the south side of the house was laid out by the first Viscount Portman between 1873 and 1878 when he was undertaking considerable remodelling of the house. Today, as in Victorian times, the exuberant and colourful period style bedding scheme is changed twice a year. The Edwardian Formal Garden was created by Sir Edwin Lutyens and the planting scheme was designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Her use in borders of graduated colour and planting in drifts has dominated garden design throughout the last hundred years. The formal garden, which was established between 1904 and 1908, is considered the finest example of the work undertaken by this famous partnership. In order to protect the gardens for the future, a charity,
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