Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Yaldham Manor Gardens, Wrotham.

Monument Types

• PARK (Medieval to Modern - 1400 AD to 2050 AD)
• FORMAL GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1868 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Formal gardens and parkland of 58 hectares (144 acres) associated with the principle building, Yaldham Manor, which dates from the 15th century. The garden includes a wide variety of mature trees and topiary hedging. (1)

The gardens were laid out between 1868 and 1886. Elements were redesigned and reordered between 1886 and 1896, the yew hedges and ha-ha probably date from this period. The rose garden to the east of the house was probably laid out in the early 20th century and the large crown topiary was established after the First World War. (2)

In the 20th century much of the grounds were used for market gardening though some elements of the formal gardens were maintained or modified. (3)

A number of sarsen stones in the grounds have at various points been arranged as garden features. It is possible that they originally came from a megalithic monument but this has not been conclusively proven. (4)

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

<2> The Paul Drury Partnership, 2008, Yaldham Manor, Wrotham, Kent. Report on the development and significance of the Manor House and Farm Buildings (Unpublished document). SKE17905.

<3> Peter Everden, 2008, Yaldham Manor Estate Garden and Grounds (Unpublished document). SKE17906.

<4> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2009, Yaldham Manor, Wrotham, Kent: A desk based assessment of the archaeological potential of Yaldham Manor, Wrotham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE24776.

Sources and further reading