Hestercombe Gardens - The Gardens Trust

Hestercombe Gardens

A unique site with four complete period gardens

In just 50 Somerset acres, Hestercombe showcases an early 17th century water garden, a Georgian landscape garden, a Victorian shrubbery and terrace and an Edwardian formal garden.

Garden History, Garden Ownership & Public Access, Landscape Design

English Landscape Garden, Formal, Shrubbery, Water Garden

Edwardian, Georgian, Victorian

Somerset

16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century

Introducing Hestercombe

Hestercombe gardens comprise 50 acres of stunning gardens in the Somerset countryside, developed in four stages over a period of more than 250 years. They are laid out on a south facing slope, which allows for wonderful views of both the gardens and the surrounding countryside.

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The oldest part of the garden is a late 16th century or early 17th century water garden. Next is a Georgian Landscape Garden designed by Coplestone Warre Bampfylde, the then owner of the estate, in the 1750s. This is followed by a Victorian Shrubbery and Terrace created in 1873. The newest section is an Edwardian Formal Garden designed in 1903 by famous Arts and Crafts collaborators architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and plantswoman Gertrude Jekyll.

The Water Garden

The Water Garden at Hestercombe was recognised as such only in the last few years. It sits in the park near to the entrance and probably dates from the early 17th century. It is being restored including the summerhouse boathouse.

Cascade, part of the Water Gardens at Hestercombe Gardens

The Orangery, Hestercombe Gardens.

Folly at Hestercombe Gardens

View over the Victorian Terrace of Hestercombe

The Georgian Landscape Garden

Hestercombe’s landscape garden rises up the hillside and the Valley of Cascades to the north of the house. Like other such gardens, the walk around the garden passes several buildings and other features, some added in the 1760s and 1770s, designed to excite the interest of visitors and provide places to sit, rest and enjoy the views. Since 1995 many of these have been restored.

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Walking up the western side of the valley visitors first pass the Octagon Summerhouse. Next the Terrace Walk leads to the Chinese Seat and the Valley of Cascades. Near the top is the Great Cascade, created by Bamfylde in 1762 to provide a dramatic climax to the garden with a rustic seat nearby allowing visitors to stop and admire the sight and sound of the water. From here the water flows south through a series of ponds, bisecting the valley.

Returning downhill on the eastern side visitors pass the Gothic Alcove, the Temple Arbour, the Witch House, made of tree branches, and the Mausoleum, yet another place to sit and admire the views. Also the Pope’s Urn, named for the poet Alexander Pope, an early proponent of landscape gardens.

Towards the house the stream widens into two larger ponds, Box Pond and Pear Pond before reaching the 17th century Water Mill with its Dynamo House and Mill Room.

The Victorian and Edwardian Gardens

The Victorian Shrubbery is a small enclosed garden sited between the house and the landscape garden. As well as shrubs there is a yew tunnel with views to the Victorian water tower. The Victorian Terrace sits to the south of the house and includes a fountain and formal bedding schemes.

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The Edwardian Formal Garden

To the east of the house, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll created lawns, a Dutch garden, an orangery and a rotunda, while to the south steps lead down from the Victorian Terrace to the Grey Walk, named for its borders of silver and grey leaved plants, and then to the world famous Great Plat.

This is a large, sunken parterre with stone-edged, symmetrical, geometric borders designed to be seen from above from the Victorian Terrace. The beds are filled with brightly coloured flowers, based on some of Gertrude Jekyll’s original planting plans which still exist. Either side are the west and east rills and at the southern end is a pergola overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Lutyens also designed a Rose Garden and the Daisy Steps, which link the Formal Garden and the Landscape Garden. Both provide wonderful views.

Hestercombe Gardens

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