Background
The colourful and fascinating
history of Upton Country Park dates back almost 250
years to when wealthy Poole merchant and banker William
Spurrier purchased the 100 acre estate on the shores of
Poole Harbour. William had amassed a fortune from the
trade between Newfoundland and Poole, and went on to be
elected Mayor of Poole on four separate occasions
between 1784 and
1802. On his death the
estate passed to his son Christopher Spurrier who built
the relatively modest but elegant Upton House in 1818.
The Walled Garden is one of the key features of the
original landscape of Poole’s only Country Park, and an
important element in the ongoing programme of the Park’s
restoration.
The Friends of Upton Country Park have long had an aim
to restore the Walled Garden to its former glory and a
comprehensive public consultation exercise was
undertaken as part of the development of the 1999 Upton
Country Park Management Plan which included a proposal
that the garden be used for ‘… the development of a
high quality horticultural attraction’. Of those
that commented on the proposal (356) 83% agreed with
it.
The Council recently commissioned a Landscape Architect
to “reinstate or reinterpret” the garden’s historic
landscape design, and to extend the existing
opportunities for educational use and community
involvement.
History of the Walled Garden
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to download full document with plans and historical
photographs
Before the growth of international trade and modern food
preservation techniques walled kitchen gardens were
found in the grounds of most large country houses in
Britain, designed to provide a continual supply of
fruit, flowers and vegetables.
A garden of one acre was expected to provide for the
needs of twelve people and would have required two or
three gardeners to maintain it.
The kitchen garden would be carefully sited, taking into
account the need for fertile, well-drained soil. Often
a little way from the main house in its landscaped park
setting, screening was also important – not only to
provide shelter from the worst of the weather, but to
conceal the “working” garden from view of the gentry.
The importance of such gardens would have reduced in the
20th Century, brought about by a shortage of
labour as a result of two world wars, and the growth in
availability of imported and preserved food.
The Walled Garden at Upton lies to the south of the main
house, adjoining the old stable block – now the Peacock
Tea Rooms, Peacock Gallery and Heritage Centre.
It was included in the original 55 acres of land gifted
to the Borough of Poole by the Llewellin family in
1957. By the time the Park was opened to the public in
1976 the entire estate was in dire need of restoration,
but within two years the newly-formed Friends of Upton
Park oversaw a Job Creation Scheme with the Manpower
Services Commission. The scheme employed three
bricklayers from the unemployment register for a period
of 9 months, and at a cost of just £300 to the Friends,
repaired the walls to safeguard the garden’s future.
The bulk of the £10,000 cost of relaying bricks,
repointing and rebuilding turret roofs was covered by
the Commission.
By March 1979 the overgrown garden had been cleared and
laid to grass, and new gates hung, some incorporating
Poole’s dolphin motif. Two months later the project was
complete and a handing over ceremony conducted by Major
Graham Yeatman in the presence of the Mayor of Poole.
Since it has been opened to the public the Walled Garden
has proved a popular venue for a number of events,
including outdoor picnic concerts by the Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra. The Education Resource Centre and
Kingston Maurward College has used the garden as a
training facility since 2002, and the Friends of Upton
Country Park hold an Annual Plant Fair within its walls.
Proposals for the Walled Garden
In its current state the one acre Walled Garden fails to
reach its potential as a key component of the historic
landscape.
Concepts
¤
To restore the garden’s old footpath network as an
expression of its former function, as a historic record
and as a way marker for historical records.
¤
To superimpose a design which is appealing yet modern,
expressing modern needs and aesthetics.
¤
To represent the trading origins of Upton House, and
indeed of Poole itself, thereby creating a garden that
is unique to Upton House and Upton Country Park.
¤
To create a garden that is flexible, that accommodates a
multitude of uses – gardening, horticulture, art, music,
education, nature and leisure, and that offers scope for
a range of seasonal events.
Considerations
¤
Design of the garden needs to provide opportunities for
the involvement of the partner organisations, notably
Kingston Maurward and Social Services.
¤
Design needs to be maintainable with likely resource
levels.
¤
Design needs to allow for phased completion subject to
resources whilst permitting public use as soon as
possible.
Inspiration for the layout of the Walled Garden has been
drawn from historical trading links of the estates past
owners and inhabitants. Connections with lands as
diverse as South America, Africa, Australia,
Newfoundland and the Mediterranean will be hinted at
with the planting of fragrant herbs, olive trees, lemon
trees and vines, all of which takes advantage of the
shelter provided by the walls.
Other plans include paths, the reintroduction of a
fountain, a greenhouse, and a shelter intended for
outdoor music or theatre performances. A terrace will
link the garden with the Peacock Tea Rooms.
The 1st
phase of the Walled Garden project is to start in July
2007, and should be open to visitors in the spring of 2008
1.Walls & Gate,
2.Footpaths, 3.Fountain, 4.Glasshouse, 5.Pavillion,
6.Terrace, 7.Peacock Tearooms & Gallery, 8. The Walk, 9.
Walks, 10. Lawns, 11. Shelter
To Download
the full Article with historical photographs and plans
click
History of the Walled Garden |
