The Restoration The Manor House Upton Grey

$restoration rollover\1$ In 1984 we moved to the almost derelict house and garden at Upton Grey. All had been sadly neglected. We found 46 burst water pipes in the house and the garden was over-run with weeds and brambles. But luckily, through neglect, no constructive damage had been done, no swimming pool or hard tennis court built. The dry-stone walls had collapsed but their Purbeck stones were still there, as were gentle shallow steps, so typical of Gertrude Jekyll's eye for proportion.

The few survivors from Miss Jekyll's original garden that we found in the Wild garden were three species of daffodil and some trees. In the formal Garden to the south-east of the house we found Fuchsia Riccartonii, Acanthus spinosus, Corydalis ochroleuca, Hemerocallis fulva, paeonies and Hartstongue ferns. In May 1984, copies of the original plans arrived from the Reef Point Collection in California, where most surviving Jekylliana is held; they are dated 1908 and 1909. Work on clearing incorrect trees, weeds and digging out trenches for yew hedges began immediately. We sterilised and cleared the soil, then stripped away grass/moss surfaces in the formal garden before double digging and feeding with well rotted manure. In the Wild garden we staked the area into ten foot (three metre) grids in order to establish exact places for replanting.

Plants and seeds were ordered for 1985 delivery. Wherever possible we grew plants from seed. It is an accurate and cheap way of starting a garden. Plants with bulbs and corms were ordered, as were all shrubs, roses and the yew plants for hedging. Generally it was surprisingly easy to find Gertrude Jekyll's chosen plants and, if she specified only species, we referred to old garden books for her favourite cultivars. If seeds were unavailable. I was able to find most of Miss Jekyll's chosen species with Beth Chatto in Essex. Gertrude Jekyll admired plants more for their collective effect in the border than for their rarity or individual beauty.

The search for plants was made easier by reference to the 'Plant Finder'. We have had tremendous support and encouragement from Hampshire Gardens Trust, Hampshire County Council, Professor Michael Tooley,Penelope Hobhouse, Richard Bisgrove and other friends. Television, a great many newspapers, magazines, some books and radio have covered our progress from dereliction to today's restored garden. Progress has been methodical and fairly slow; the garden is still not completely mature and trees are certainly not fully grown, but we hope visitors enjoy this living museum of Gertrude Jekyll's plants and design.

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History of the Garden

The Formal Garden

Jekyll's Design

The Wild Garden

Opening Times & Location