Traditional Walled Garden | England
While searching for new premises for her garden design business in 2001 Jan Howard was shown a hidden area on the Cowdray Estate in Midhurst. This walled garden was very neglected but still surrounded by its lovely orginal Tudor brick walls. Jan fell in love with it and entered negotiations with the estate to restore the garden.
The gardens are located next to the ruins of a famous fortified mansion visited by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Perhaps not surprisingly the site has a Schedule 1 Ancient Monument listing. Before any work was started a full archaelogical survery of the site was conducted.
In restoring the garden Jan chose a design that replicated the formality of the Tudor period in a contemporary manner. As well as the Tudor influence she wanted the garden to have 'inspiration and harmony' and be a tranquil and contemplative area that visitors could enjoy.
To that end Jan chose to work with British companies who produce the best plants and designs in the world. The greenhouse was chosen to add focus and inspiration along with Le Blanc statutory and water features.
The greenhouse was designed in a special muted earthy tone which blends perfectly with the Tudor walls. It is designed very much as a display house with raised planted beds in each end, full of bouganvillias and jasmine. It has lobbies on both sides giving access and great aesthetics from both sides. Cold frames on one side and herbaceous planting right up to the greenhouse on the other, give quite different elevations to the same greenhouse.
Jan is delighted with the structure and often uses it for lunch and dinner parties in the spring and summer.
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