Larmer Tree Gardens

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The Larmer Tree Gardens near Tollard Royal in south Wiltshire, England, were created by Lieutenant-General Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers in 1880 as pleasure grounds for "public enlightenment and entertainment". They were the first private gardens opened for public enjoyment in the United Kingdom, and were free to enter. The gardens are situated on the Rushmore Estate in Cranborne Chase, an ancient royal hunting ground and now an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The gardens themselves are listed as Grade II* on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England by English Heritage.[1][2]

Description

In 1880, Augustus Lane Fox inherited the Rushmore Estate, and a condition of the will stipulated that he should change his name to Pitt Rivers. He started making the Larmer Tree Pleasure Grounds almost immediately. The gardens are named after the Larmer Tree, a landmark tree on the ancient boundary between Wiltshire and Dorset. The tree was possibly an ancient Wych elm (Ulmus glabra) which was the reputed site of the meeting place of King John (1167-1216) and his entourage when they were out hunting. The original tree was still living as late as 1894, around which time it was replaced by an oak, which was planted in the centre of the decayed rim.[3]

King John deer hunting, from a manuscript in the British Library.

Pitt Rivers built several structures around the main lawn which were intended to educate and enlighten the garden visitors, including the Nepalese or Indian Room which was acquired after the closure of the British Empire Exhibition in 1898. There was also a racecourse, an eighteen link golf course and lawn tennis courts. There were eight picnic areas, each enclosed by cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) hedges and with thatched buildings in case of inclement weather. Pitt Rivers provided "crockery, knives and forks for picnickers, gratis", as well as "chairs, tables and dumb waiters" and accommodation for 20 horses.[2]

Music and entertainment was also provided at the Singing Theatre, where plays were performed by workers from the estate, and poetry recitals given. A band was provided on Sunday afternoons during summer. Thousands of Vauxhall lights, hanging glass lamps lit by candles, illuminated the gardens in the evening, when there was open-air dancing. The night that Thomas Hardy danced with Pitt River's daughter Agnes in 1895 he described the gardens as "Quite the prettiest sight I ever saw in my life".[2]

By 1899 the gardens were attracting over 44,000 people a year, both estate workers and the general public. With Pitt Rivers' death in 1900 the gardens closed, opening only occasionally after that time.

Restoration of the gardens started in 1991. In the 90-odd years that the gardens had been closed, the cherry laurel had taken over almost all the gardens apart from the main lawn. Many of the buildings had decayed. The gardens were re-opened to the public in 1995. In 1999 a new Larmer Tree was planted to mark the new millenium.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[4][2]

The gardens today

The gardens cover 11 acres. Many of the Victorian buildings, including the Nepalese Room, a Roman Temple and the Colonial style pavilion which was originally the Tea Room, still remain. The open air theatre has a backdrop painted by the scenery department at the Welsh National Opera is based on Landscape with the Funeral of Phocion, a 1648 painting by Nicolas Poussin which is in the National Museum Cardiff. Wide cherry laurel-hedged rides radiate out from the main lawn, leading to woodland ‎beyond. There are displays of camellias, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and eucryphias among the other trees and shrubs. Peacocks and free-flying macaws roam the gardens.

The gardens are privately owned and are open on a fee-paying basis from Easter to the end of September each year. True to the spirit of Pitt Rivers, picknickers are encouraged at the gardens, croquet equipment is provided for no charge, and free music on played on Sunday afternoons.[2] The gardens are grant-aided by English Heritage.[5]

Festivals, events and concerts

A music and arts festival, the Larmer Tree Festival, has been held at the Larmer Tree Gardens every year from 1991 to the present day. The dates for the 2009 Festival are set for 15-19 July.[6] In 2008 the End of the Road Festival is in its third year at the Larmer Tree Gardens, and ran from 12-14 September. Other events and concerts take place at the gardens throughout the summer. In 1999 Dining with Alice, based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and produced by Artichoke, the company that went on to produce The Sultan's Elephant and La Princesse, was performed at the Gardens as part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival. It is stated on the Artichoke webiste that this production will be re-staged in 2009, although whether this will be at the Larmer Tree Gardens or some other venue is not mentioned.[7]

References

  1. ^ "The Larmer Tree Gardens". Larmer Tree Gardens. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e "A stately pleasure garden". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  3. ^ [www.ucl.ac.uk/prehistoric/past/past34.html "Lieutenant-General A.H.L.F. Pitt Rivers"]. Past, newsletter of the Prehistoric Society. Retrieved 2008-09-13. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Larmer Tree - Wiltshire's secret garden". BBC. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  5. ^ "Opening Arrangements at Grant Aided Properties Details of Opening Arrangements". English Heritage. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  6. ^ "It's all over..." Larmer Tree Festival. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  7. ^ "Dining with Alice". Artichoke. Retrieved 2008-09-12.

Further reading

  • Pitt Rivers, Lt.-General, 1900 A Short Guide to the Larmer Grounds, Rushmore; King John's House, and The Museum at Farnham, Dorset
  • Bowden, Mark, 2000, "Lieutenant-General A.H.L.F. Pitt Rivers" in Past, Newsletter of the Prehistoric Society, 34 (online at [1])

External links

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