Dyrham Park

 

A few weeks ago we finally paid a visit to Dyrham Park. We were staying nearby in Bradford-on-Avon, and decided to have a look on our way home.

A short walk from the car park along and down the drive brought us to this rather special place.

I won't go into it's fascinating history, or tell you about it's various owners, but let's just say one in particular was a very clever man. Smart, insightful, and looked to by those in ultimate control for advice.

It's not one of the best known houses, compared to Blenheim or Chatsworth, but nonetheless should command a place in anybody's 'list'.

The two long and semi formal beds at the back are rather wonderful. 'Old school' gardening at it's best. When we visited there were a team of about fifteen gardeners at work, some trimming the vast hedges of Laurel and Buxus. Others, five in total, working on trimming the edges of the very formal lawns. More labouring away on other tasks.

Two young women were happily chatting and working on the fairly new topiary Taxus. 

It was fascinating to watch them. Stencils had been cut out of plywood to make sure that their secateurs only trimmed exactly what was needed in these new and flourishing plant designs.

I particularly liked the use of the Beech in the topiary through the border. A new one for me. The autumn colour brought life into the whole thing.

Banks of all sorts of evergreen shrubs were obviously kept periodically trimmed, yagain, something I haven't seen before, formality with variety. I loved it. Old meets new, but somehow stays along an old theme.

The garden was originally a vast and complex one, a little like a small Versailles. A visit to the orangery, where prints of the original layout are on display will show just how vast and spectacular they were.

Now just the immediate gardens to the house speak of it's original complexity, skill, and size.

There is a church. Simple, beautiful, and peaceful.

Remembrance day had just been observed. There were clear glass images sat in various place in the pews to commemorate those now not with us.

Just south of Bath. Give it a visit. You can go inside as well! But that's another story. I was just spellbound by the garden, and the skill still thankfully employed.