PUBLIC PLACES
Brodsworth Hall– A Brief History
Brodsworth Hall was built between 1861 and 1863 for Charles Sabine Thellusson who inherited the estate in 1859. The house replaced the huge Georgian house, previously rebuilt, which was demolished in 1861. The new property, now a Grade 1 listed building, was built further uphill, away from the church and village and to meet the Thelluson’s requirements; a house and estate suited to family life and entertaining their social set. It was to be more efficiently planned and set in private gardens overlooking newly opened up parkland.
Philip Wilkinson, then twenty six years old and a little known London architect, was commissioned by Thellusson, to build the Italianate mansion at great speed between 1861 and 1863. Lapworths, a London firm, furnished it in the conventional taste of the day. It had a subsidiary wing for the servants to live and work in, with a separate laundry and gas works.
By the end of the 1860s, the Thelluson’s remodelling of Brodsworth was complete. The gardens had been fully laid out and the estate improved, with woods to provide good shooting and well-designed new farm buildings and cottages.
Brodsworth Hall survives as a mid- Victorian vision of a comfortable country house, with many of its original furnishings and the formal gardens laid out around it. However, Brodsworth had fallen into disrepair by 1990 when it was given to English Heritage. Since then, its fragile interiors have been gently conserved, whilst the gardens have been returned to their earlier formality.
For a more detailed history, please visit https://www.english-
heritage.org.uk/visit/places/brodsworth- hall-and-gardens/history/
The Privy Coronavirus
A new inclusion in my questions was: How has Coronavirus affected you, your job and your business? Edward said that over ninety percent of English Heritage staff were furloughed and choices were given, based on personal circumstances and skills. This meant saving the business as loss of revenue was huge. Management were in regular contact though and Edward found this helped. He was certainly impressed by the way all was handled throughout this difficult period.
Gardeners were the first back to work from the furlough scheme as this was seen as so important! “After all, the gardens are what folk come to see!” Edward emphasised.
One thing that did change was the mowing regime because of the lack of resources. Some areas have remained un- mowed, including the sides of the grassed banks around the house. This has been commented on favourably, so some areas may stay that way! Extra work has been necessary to produce signage and mark out a one-way system around the grounds, close certain areas and completely refurbish the toilet facilities; how timely for visitors
The Game Larder
during this period of Covid-19 precautions!. An outside seating area only is catered for by a reduced catering facility. Volunteers are assisting to provide the extra stewards required throughout the route.
About the industry
Edward was armed with some interesting facts concerning the state of our industry:
• Ornamental horticulture contributed £12.6 billion to GDP in 2018
• £1.35 billion worth of plants produced and sold in the UK in 2017
• £1.2 billion were imported
• £1 in every £100 of household spending is on horticulture goods
Edward suggested; “Maybe we should produce more in the UK. Surely its’s better for bio-security and the economy?” Incidentally, there is an All-Party
Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (APPGHG) which was established almost two decades ago to promote and facilitate communication and understanding between representatives of the world of gardening and horticulture and Members of both Houses of Parliament. Perhaps greater communication and promotion can be achieved between this group and the industry? Asked if he felt undervalued Edward’s response said much: “in 2014, fifty percent of under twenty-fives saw horticulture as an unskilled career!” He thought that TV was helping to raise the industry’s profile. There’s certainly a proliferation of programmes now!
The team attends the interesting ‘open to all gardeners’ annual English Heritage conference which includes garden visits, seminars, etc. Edward’s concluding comments after such an interesting and informative visit were: “I just love horticulture because you never stop learning. There are so many avenues for specialisation. Demonstrating how to look after our heritage will hopefully inspire others to care for our future!”
112 PC August/September 2020
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