The first stage of an exciting 18th-century garden restoration project at one of Britain’s greatest industrial heritage sites will be revealed to visitors for the first time when Quarry Bank Garden opens on 11 March.
The National Trust began the first phase of a five - year project to restore Quarry Bank Garden and make it accessible to the public after acquiring the garden and Quarry Bank House in November 2006.
© NTPL / Alan Novelli
The garden also has a cave, which according to local folklore, since medieval times at least, the cave claims to have been home to a pauper family, a blacksmith and even a hermit!
In order to begin restoration work in the garden, the National Trust enlisted the help of over sixty volunteers from the local community, including enthusiastic children, staff from various corporate companies, and inmates of Styal Prison who happen to be keen amateur gardeners. Work has concentrated on rediscovering the hidden paths and lost features of the garden which will be restored over the next few years.
© NTPL / Alan Novelli
The volunteers and National Trust staff have together:
- removed over 60 tons of earth spoil
- used 200 tons of surfacing to repair paths
- erected 250 metres of new fencing
Some of the mature decaying trees have been removed, and historic views have been opened up again. However, the Trust is also retaining several more modern elements of the garden – such as the beautiful Handkerchief Tree, planted by the Lowcocks, which reflect their ownership of the garden as part of its ongoing history and development.
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Alan Knapper, Head Gardener at Quarry Bank Mill says:
'Restoring the garden has involved careful archeological surveying, patience and a lot of hard graft. None of this would have been possible without our fantastic team of volunteers who have worked hard to bring the spirit and design of the original garden back to life and make it accessible once more. They have been an integral part of the project'.
© NTPL / Alan Novelli
Later this year research will be carried out which could reveal some plant rarities at Quarry Bank. Over 200 species and hybrid rhododendrons were introduced to the garden by Robert Hyde Greg (1795 – 1875), Samuel Greg’s son, who was passionate about plants, especially rhododendrons. Robert commissioned leading nurseries to supply seedling hybrids which he named after family members and the locality, such as ‘Robert Hyde Greg’, ‘Norcliffe Gem’ and ‘Norcliffe Red.’ It’s estimated that around twenty of these introductions still survive and some could prove to be unique to Quarry Bank Garden.
Quarry Bank House will be tenanted until funding becomes available for its restoration, and is therefore not currently open to the public.
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