If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Hexagonal walled garden to the north of Ashby Hall, Ashby de la Launde.

Full description

Hexagonal walled garden to the north of Ashby Hall (see MLI84518). The exact date of construction of the walled garden is currently uncertain. It is depicted on the 2nd edition 25" Ordnance Survey County Series map, where it is shown with a number of probable glasshouses attached to both the northern and southern walls. The garden is visible on an aerial photograph taken in 1969, with all the walls appearing to be fully extant at that time, although the former glasshouses seem to have been removed. {1}{2}

The walled garden is thought to be of late 18th or early 19th century date, being depicted on an 1820 map of this area. It therefore pre-dates the proliferation of detached walled gardens from the mid 19th century, and represents a relatively early example of its type. The hexagonal plan form was clearly intended to impress visitors to the estate, with the original quartered planting layout still extant. The garden walls are constructed of hand-made red bricks, laid in English Garden Wall bond, with a pantile coping. The walls survive well, along with legible remains of former hothouses and equipment for heating and ventilation. On the north-eastern portion of the exterior wall is a multi-diamond pattern created out of blue bricks. Located at the western and eastern extremities of the hexagon layout are plank doors, with wooden lintels above. To the southern wall there is the remains of a small shelter, likely for a boiler, with a brick chimney within which indicates that the southern wall was heated. It is likely that this was later extended to provide the heating for the southern glasshouses. Ashby Hall estate was divided in the mid 20th century, with the hall and walled garden passing into separate ownerships. Planning permission was granted in 2013 to convert a stone outbuilding and the site of the former glasshouse to the northern wall into living accommodation. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate entry in the National Heritage List for England. {3}

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1902-06, 25 Inch County Series Map - Second Edition, TF 05 NE (Map). SLI3566.

<2> 1945-84, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION, AWX9 (1969) (Aerial Photograph). SLI173.

<3> Historic England (formerly English Heritage), 2011->, The National Heritage List for England, 1487810 (Website). SLI13386.

Monument Types

• WALLED GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1800 AD? to 2050 AD)
• HOUSE (21st Century - 2013 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Events

• Site Visit to the Hexagonal Walled Garden, Ashby Hall, Ashby de la Launde

Protected Status

• Listed Building

Sources and further reading

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.