| We are the sweet flowers Born of sunny showers. Think, whene'er you see us, what our beauty saith: Utterance, mute and bright, Of some unknown delight, We fill the air with pleasure by our simple breath. James Henry Leigh Hunt (1794-1859) |
Newby Hall and Gardens
English Heritage Historic Garden Grade II |
Newby Hall is the family home of Mr & Mrs Robin Compton and one of Yorkshire's renowned Adam houses. It was built around 1695 by Sir Edward Blackett who became Member of Parliament for Ripon. The original garden design was by Peter Aram, previously an apprentice of London & Wise of Brompton Nurseries, the leading 18th century garden designers. Around 1748 when Robert Adam was commissioned to redecorate the interior of the house, Aram's formal late 17th century design was swept aside to make way for an English landscaped park. Various changes were made to the garden since then, but it was the present owner's father who from 1920 transformed it into broadly what we see today. He was a descendant of Bishop Henry Compton, the renowned 17th century botanist and gardener.
This tour is taken from that described in an excellent illustrated booklet of the garden, written by Mr Robin Compton, a past President of the Northern Horticultural Society. A long list of the species to be found is placed at the back. I strongly recommend this excellent souvenir and the interesting tour it describes.
The garden contains a National Collection of dogwood (Cornus). There is a small gift shop, restaurant and a discreet miniature railway.