Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Nettlestead Place

Monument Types

• GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• KITCHEN GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• ORNAMENTAL CANAL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• POND (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• ROSE GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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DESCRIPTION
To the south of the house is a large square sunken pond garden surrounded by a 1.5 metre wall of ragstone topped by boxwood hedges. The pond is fed by a natural spring, and there are to be found many interesting water and bog plants.

To the east of the house is a fine gravelled terrace overlooking a daffodil lawn and small man-made canals fed from the pond. This leads to a natural valley where it is intended to construct a glen garden using streams and small water falls.

To the north of the house is a small square garden divided into four by boxwood and yew hedges, containing herb and salad gardens and soft fruit for use in the kitchen.

To the west of the pond garden is an extensive rose and herbaceous garden centred around a 300 year old lime tree. It is planned to add many more varieties and species of roses to this garden by removing the herbaceous borders to a specially selected formal area of the gardens further south and west. At the north end of the rose garden is a small intimate woodland area with many varieties of shade-loving plants.

To the south of the pond and rose gardens, the garden is dominated by an area of four recently planted island beds, the largest of which is some 1000 square metres in area, containing an extensive range of plants, trees and shrubs.

The garden as a whole is on many levels, being on a slope leading down to the River Medway. The features of the gardens have been planned to provide specific vistas of open countryside beyond, and views of the house, gatehouse and adjoining church.

Ragstone walls have been re-built and new walls made, and together with established hedges of beech, box and yew, make fitting places for narrow borders of ground-cover plants especially the many varieties of hardy geranium. The walls themselves support a range of unusual tender plants and climbers.

Other developments are planned, including a glasshouse for the growing of more tender species.

Principal building:
House Created 1250 to 1922
The house was largely re-built in the early 1920s.

HISTORY
The original house was built in 1250. Its associated small estate flourished until the mid-17th century. It was then abandoned until 1920, and only a large walnut tree and lime tree remain in the garden as relics of the original grounds. Between 1920 and 1922 a Mr Vinson largely rebuilt the house, and restarted the gardens which the present owner is rejuvenating and extending.

Features
herbaceous border

specimen tree
Feature created: 1700
Lime tree.

garden terrace
Gravelled terrace.

ornamental canal
Small man-made canals fed from the pond.

lawn
Daffodil lawn.

kitchen garden
To the north of the house is a small square garden divided into four by boxwood and yew hedges, containing herb and salad gardens and soft fruit for use in the kitchen.

pond
To the south of the house is a large square sunken pond garden surrounded by a 1.5 metre wall of ragstone topped by boxwood hedges. The pond is fed by a natural spring, and there are to be found many interesting water and bog plants.

island bed
To the south of the pond and rose gardens, the garden is dominated by an area of four recently planted island beds, the largest of which is some 1000 square metres in area, containing an extensive range of plants, trees and shrubs.

rose garden
(1-2)

<1> Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS), 2005, Parks and Gardens UK (www.parksandgardens.org) (Website). SKE16061.

<2> Kent County Council, 1996, The historic parks and gardens of Kent (Kent Gardens Compendium) (Unpublished document). SKE12972.

Sources and further reading