Rock Garden

On the east side of the park, on the slope between the lower park and the upper, are the remains of a rock garden which appears to cover a substantial part of the side of the hill.^[1]

Clusters of stones are still present and an eroded and overgrown path cuts through the rock garden, leading most of the way to the lake. Another interesting feature is a small gate in the old rusty railing above, which may in the past have led from the upper park onto the rock garden path. It is worth noting that the modern day path between the upper and lower parts of the park on this side of the lake, is thought to have been constructed in the late 1960s.^[2] Ordnance Survey maps confirm this as the path does not appear on the 1954 map, but is marked on the 1970 edition.

This rock garden probably existed in the early 20th century. It was not shown on any Ordnance Survey maps and by the 1960s its presence had been forgotten.^[2]

In the 1960s a small rock garden was maintained opposite the lily pond.^[2] This border now contains mostly shrubs and herbaceous plants among the surviving rocks.

Sources of information

1. Personal communication (TC)
2. Personal communication (TD)