Tatton Park Japanese Garden

An Edwardian Gentleman’s Interpretation of a Japanese Garden

Inspired by the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition of 1910, Lord Egerton decided to install his own Japanese Garden at Tatton Park.

Japanese Gardens, Landscape Design, Restoration

Japanese

Edwardian

Cheshire

20th Century

An Overview of the Garden and Tatton Park

Tatton Park is a large, well-known 2,000 acre estate in Cheshire, north of Knutsford. It includes a formal Italian garden near the house, glass houses, a walled kitchen garden, large yew topiaries, and a large pleasure garden with a stunning collection of rhododendron and numerous tree species.

At the end of the pleasure garden, between the broad walk and the arboretum, lie the Japanese garden. The gardens date back to the eighteenth century, with additions through the nineteenth century. The Japanese garden was begun in 1910, inspired by Lord Egerton’s visit to the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition that year. The torii gate, shinto shrine, some lanterns, and tea house were brought from Japan, possibly as kits that were made for the Western market. Some items may have been purchased from the Exhibition itself, although some artefacts, like the Korean lantern, are not actually Japanese.

The Japanese Garden at Tatton Park with the 'flying goose' bridge with two lanterns and another Kasuga Lantern in the background. ©National Trust Images/Stephen Robson

The Japanese Garden at Tatton Park looking down at the ornamental tea room amongst the Acers and Japanese maples. ©National Trust Images/Stephen Robson

The Shinto Temple on an Island in the Japanese Garden at Tatton Park. The arched bridge spans a lake that was originally created for Lady Charlotte Egerton, out of disused clay pits. ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

The Golden Brook in the Japanese Garden at Tatton Park, Cheshire. ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Restoration in the early 2000's

The garden had become heavily overgrown and was restored in the early 2000/2001. Professor Masao Fukuhara of Osaka University directed the restoration and immediately remarked that it was not a garden a Japanese garden designer would have designed.

The Japanese principle of shakkei

The Japanese garden is enclosed with a bamboo fence, and includes plants traditional in a Japanese garden, like acers, azaleas, and pines.

History Hub

Discover the people, places, and ideas
that shaped our garden history.

Back to History Hub