This September 25 Zoom is an illustrated talk presented by the Gardens Trust in partnership with Northamptonshire Gardens Trust, part of our Restoration in Action series. Here the Head Gardener will be discussing the gardens’ extensive history, and an outline of the plans for bringing them back to life.
The Restoration in Action series helps us to learn about researching, reporting and restoring a selection of glorious parks and gardens in the county. The chosen projects showcase the skills, sensitivities and determination needed to document and conserve historic sites. Burghley House, near Stamford in Lincolnshire, is one of the most impressive surviving mansions from the 16th century, built by William Cecil, Lord High Chancellor, in honor of Queen Elizabeth 1. George London and Moses Cook laid out elaborate formal gardens in the late 17th century and then, from the 1750s, the estate was transformed as one of Capability Brown’s biggest and most important commissions.
Built over 300 years ago, the walled gardens at Burghley are substantial, encompassing 6.5 acres (2.5 hectares) inside 10-foot (3m) tall walls. They are an impressive site even now, years after the gardens fell silent and the last spade turned its final sod of soil.
Today, the gardens are stirring, and plans are afoot to breathe life back into this amazing place, where 26 glass houses once stood and 120 gardeners labored behind those tall walls. Born in Worcester, lecturer Joe Whitehead grew up in the Bristol area and would spend his childhood summers at the estate where his grandfather worked who (like his father before him) was a head gardener, so not surprisingly he followed in their footsteps and, with a passion for plants and gardening, Joe pursued a career in horticulture.
Joe’s first positions were as an undergardener at Hollywell Hall, Lincolnshire, and then Burghley House, somewhere he would unexpectedly return. He studied for a National Diploma in Horticulture and then the prestigious Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture, training and working in the RHS gardens for two years. Joe also holds the RHS Diploma levels 2 and 3. After Wisley, head gardener roles at Salle Park and Raveningham Hall, both in Norfolk, and a period running his own business, led him back to Burghley House, where as head gardener he has been managing the 46 acres of gardens for 6 years.
This ticket is for this individual session and costs £8. Gardens Trust and Northamptonshire Gardens Trust Members may purchase tickets at £6. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk A link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks .
