An Edwardian Masterpiece: from chaos to tranquility

When Rosamund and John Wallinger bought an old manor house in Hampshire in 1983, they had no idea that the overgrown gardens surrounding it were hiding a wonderful secret: these gardens had been created in 1908 by one of the most influential garden designers of the 20th century: Gertrude Jekyll.
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Though they knew little of gardening at the time, this discovery set them on a journey that combined sleuthing, determination and sheer hard work. The result is remarkable!

Jekyll's original plans were finally located at the Reef Point Collection at the University of California at Berkeley. Rosamund began the meticulous task of deciphering the plans and sourcing the plants from across the world. Then the arduous physical work began to restore the gardens. Taking the Wild Garden to the north of the house to a picture of tranquility. Paths meander through rambling then species roses, through a small copse of walnut trees, simple shrubs and wildflowers to a pond surrounded with water-loving plants.

The Wild Garden in 1984

The Wild Garden now: the gates are easy to see

​In contrast, the formal garden to the south is linear and architectural in style. Gertrude Jekyll had a taste for the simplicity and orderly disorder of cottage gardens.  And she applied that to the drystone walls and a sunken garden, giving the skeleton a softness and an added rhythm by her inspired handling of color and local forms.

The 5-acre garden is practical as well as beautiful: a kitchen garden, orchard, and nuttery, as well as bowling and tennis lawns. And, of course, a cottage garden.
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Meeting Rosamund and John (and dogs) was the icing on the cake. Their enthusiasm and joie de vivre simply shone through. The garden is acknowledged to be the most complete and accurately restored of Gertrude Jekyll’s gardens. This achievement was recognized by the Queen in 2018 with the award of the British Empire Medal for services to gardening heritage.