Six properties were identified as suitable for the Contemporary Heritage Garden Scheme.
Selecting the sites
The preparation work behind the final selection of six sites included:
- An initial shortlist of sites requiring improvement in their garden or landscape presentation was prepared
- A desktop study of each site analysing the history and significance of the site to assess the impact and appropriateness of a potential new garden
- Archaeological investigations also advised where the potential of buried archaeology would contain new development
- The English Heritage Historic Parks and Gardens Advisory Committee provided a peer review and approved the site selection and designer brief for each site
Archaeology
In some cases, such as the Cock Pit at Richmond Castle, initial investigation lead to further archaeological investigation on site, including a geophysical survey and selective trenches. This identified that the site had been much disturbed with the only interesting garden remnants being the foundations of a 19th century glasshouse and garden frames.
One of the tenets of the Contemporary Heritage Garden scheme was that new design or works should not destroy significant archaeological evidence.
Garden Construction
The winning designers were then commissioned to form part of a project team to fully develop their ideas, so that the work could be put out to tender.
The English Heritage Project Teams were made up of John Watkins or Russell Williams as Project Co-ordinators, the Designer, Regional staff: Assistant Regional Director, Facilities Manager, Marketing Manager, Landscape Architect, Landscape Manager, Historic Buildings Inspector and site custodial staff. At Eltham Palace, Witley Court and Osborne where there are Head Gardeners they became key members of the project team.
Main aims and objectives of the scheme
The scheme aimed to:
- Create contemporary gardens appropriate to their historic settings
- Improve the presentation of properties to visitors for their knowledge and enjoyment
- Select designs on concepts and materials appropriate to the site
- Set standards of design for future heritage
- Apply the best standards of finish and construction in the heritage sector
- Promote the best landscape designers and their profession
- Increase visitor numbers and income fed back to the heritage sector
Additional site specific aims
Richmond Castle - to develop a community involvement scheme for the garden
Portland Castle - to aid the regeneration of the Portland area after the withdrawal of the Royal Navy and related industry
Lincoln Bishop's Palace - part of a wider project in association with the Lindum Hillside Partnership for the improvement of local visitor attractions.
Completion
Six gardens were completed:
English Heritage is delighted with all the new gardens. They have resolved long-standing presentation problems at each site and have provided us with a valuable legacy of some of the best garden and landscape design.
