This September 30 talk sponsored by the Gardens Trust and the Garden Museum will chart the creation of Nesfield’s grand parterres at Witley Court in the 1850s for William Ward, later Earl of Dudley, and their subsequent long period of decline following the sale of the property, a devastating fire and the systematic dismantling of the estate. In 1984 Witley Court came under the guardianship of English Heritage, who buried the remaining parterre to deter further removals. Following local campaigns, the grand Perseus and Andromeda fountain was restored in 2002 with an HLF grant, which also purchased land reuniting the formal and informal parts of the landscape. The lecture will detail further research and reconstructions that have revealed Nesfield’s intentions.

John Watkins led the Gardens and Landscape Team in English Heritage for 27 years, retiring in July 2025. He is a professional horticulturist with some 47 years’ experience, awarded the RHS Associate of Honour in 2016. As well as Witley Court, John has led high-profile restoration projects at Chiswick House and Gardens, Down House, Eltham Palace, Wrest Park, Kenilworth Castle, Boscobel House, Audley End Kitchen Garden and Mount Grace Priory. In April 2025 he was appointed as Chair of the Gardens Trust.

This ticket is for this individual session and costs £8. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the first talk, and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks. Register through Eventbrite HERE.