Folly Farm, Sulhamstead, Berkshire
TODAY,' Lanning Roper, wrote in COUNTRY LIFE, May 15, 1975, after visiting Folly Farm near Sulhamstead, in Berkshire, 'such a garden is beyond the realms of possibility in this country.' He cited the expense not only of upkeep but of repairs and ongoing maintenance: the photographs accompanying his article show badly cracked paving stones around Sir Edwin Lutyens's canal.
Fast forward to 2022 and not only have all the flagstones been repaired, but the historic Arts-and-Crafts house and garden, designed by Lutyens in 1906, refreshed in 1912, and planted by Gertrude Jekyll, are in the best of good health. Indeed, they are glowing, thanks to decades of careful restoration, thoughtful replanting, and inspired expansion with the help of designer Dan Pearson. The day-to-day care of the gardens is ensured by an expert team headed up by Tim Stretton and overseen by estate manager Simon Goodenough.
Originally, one entered through a gate in the wall directly into one of three small formal courtyards, laid out geometrically in 1906 with flagstone and herringbone-brick paths to balance the rural setting. Now, the approach is via the drive and the forecourt into Barn Court, a private area outside the half-timbered Tudor building that was the original house. Planting here is cool and mainly green, with beds of herbaceous perennials laid out by Mr. Pearson in 2010 and since added to with cottage-garden favourites, such as nigella, salvia, euphoria, and thalictrum. The Italian oil jar that once stood on a pedestal has been replaced by the present owners with a terracotta beer pot from South Africa, before the thatched barn that gives this garden its name.
Denne historien er fra May 11, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra May 11, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
