Greenway has been an important Devonshire property for over 500 years. There have been a fascinating array of owners over this period, each leaving their mark on the estate we treasure today.
1493-1700 The Gilberts
First mentioned in 1493, 'Greynway' was the crossing point of the Dart to Dittisham. In the late 16th century, a Tudor mansion, Greenway Court, was built for Otho Gilbert and his wife Katherine, nee Champerknowne.
Tristram Risdon, a local historian, described it as a 'delightful dwelling', having extensive views of the estuary below.
Of their three children born at Greenway, Sir Humphrey, a favourite of Elizabeth I, took possession of Newfoundland for the Queen, whilst Sir John became a lord lieutenant of the county and a man of great local influence, remaining at Greenway for his lifetime.
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1700-1791 The Roopes
Roope Harris Roope probably built Greenway House, the central block of today's building, next to Greenway Court. Pecent excavations near the house exposed the foundations of what must have been the Court.
A merchant adventurer, Roope developed trade with the New World, possibly importing plants and seeds from America and Portugal - a relation of his having introduced the Camellia 'Captain Rawes'.
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1791-1832 The Eltons
Edward Elton, Bristol merchant adventurer and MP, paid over £9,000 for the property, which, according to a 1791 plan, comprised the new house, two enclosed gardens, a fountain garden and drying yard, behind which the Court had stood.
James Marwood Elton succeeded his father in 1811. He added two wings to the house and landscaped the surrounding garden. The original entrance to the property from Maypool was incorporated into the garden, and a realigned stretch of road was routed down the hill to a new entrance drive and lodge. This landscape in the style of the designer Humphry Repton remains much the same today.
Also dating from this era are some of the garden buildings, the beech trees, enclosing belts and the Camellia Garden. By the time the estate was sold in 1832, it included an extensive kitchen garden of one acre, a melon ground, flower, gardens and, surrounding them all, 'a park of much natural beauty', the whole offering 'the appearance of enchantment rather than reality'.
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1832-1851 Colonel Edward Caroyon
Carlyon bought the estate for £18,000, but his tenure was shortened by the need to return to his Tregrehan estate, and he sold at auction for only, £15,500.
An account book written in the 1840s had noted substantial payments to nurseries, including Veitch, Lucombe and Prince, for plants possibly destined for Greenway, which could have included camellias and Turkey oaks for the newly created Camellia Garden, and the magnificent Liviodendron (tulip tree) near the house.
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1851-1882 The Harveys
A wealthy copper magnate from St Day in Cornwall, Harvey set about modernising and expanding the estate, restoring the lodge and stables and adding two glasshouses to the walled garden, perhaps inspired by his cousin, Michael Williams, who was restoring Caerhays Castle. His gardener, J. Couldrey, wrote to Gardeners' Chronicle noting the fine specimens of exotic plants at Greenway, which included Acacia, Clianthus, Sophora and myrtles.
Harvey had fought a proposal for a railway to run across Greenway land down to Greenway Quay from where passengers could travel on to Dartmouth by boat. A compromise was agreed with the building of the Greenway tunnel that runs under Greenway and today transports tourists along the steam railway from Paignton to Kingswear.
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1882-1937 The Bolithos and the Williams
Thomas Bolitho of Trewidden bought Greenway for £44,000. A keen plantsman, he introduced the Cornish influence in the garden, specialising in camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons sheltered by laurel plantings.
Articles by S. Wyndham Fitzherbert in the Gardeners' Chronicle and The Garden (1899 and 1901) record numerous other varieties and species. Notable trees included Cryptomerias, Monterey pines, acacias and eucalyptus. More tender plants are Gevuina avellana, Embothrium coccineum, callistemon and phom-iium, and flowering climbers such as Abutilons, and Banksian and China roses.
After Bolitho's death in 1919, his daughter, Mary, and her husband, Charles Williams of Caerhays, took over Greenway. Charles was a prolific gardener and they planted extensively, especially rhododendrons, daffodils and magnolias from the nurseries at Caerhays and Werrington near Launceston, including several introductions discovered by the plant hunter George Forrest. Notes from Charles's planting notebook for 1916 to 1935 show that he was also ordering from the Veitch nurseries.
In 1937 the Williamses returned to Cornwall, leaving a more colourful and varied Greenway, which they sold to Sir Alfred Goodson of nearby, of nearby Waddeton Court. The estate was split up, and within only a year the house with 36 acres was up for sale again for £6,000.
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1938-1959 Mrs Mallowan
Agatha Christie (known locally by her married name, Mrs Mallowan) could not resist buying Greenway. She and her husband Max, who was later knighted for his services to archaeology, soon became very attached to the place. It became their holiday home. Both were keen gardeners, ordering from Veitch, Treseder and Hillier. Even after the outbreak of war, Max continued listing wild flowers in the garden. In April 1942, his garden book noted the exceptionally late season, with cainellias, magnolias and even primroses only just coming out.
During the autumn of 1943, Greenway was requisitioned by the Admiralty for the use of the United States Navy. As part of the preparations for D-Day, Greenway became the Officers Mess for the 10th US Patrol Boat Flotilla based in the Dart Estuary. Amongst them was a Lt Marshall Lee, who was to become their unofficial war artist, creating a frieze around the walls of the library. During the build-up to D-Day, American music could often be heard wafting over the estate. According to local rumour, an abrupt silence foretold another raid by the Luftwaffe!
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1959-2000 Rosalind and Anthony Hicks, Mathew Prichard
In 1959 the property was transferred by Mrs Mallowan to her daughter Rosalind Hicks, and from then until 2000 it was owned in various partnerships by her, her second husband, Anthony, and her son, Mathew Prichard. During this period the family purchased Lower Greenway Farm, comprising 109 hectares (270 acres), which completely surrounds the garden.
Anthony Hicks ran a commercial nursery at Greenway propagating plants grown in the garden. This in turn led to the creation of an increasingly specialised collection of tender and rare southern hemisphere plants in a natural setting. Rosalind and Anthony have lived at Greenway since 1967 and have greatly enjoyed the garden and their involvement, in developing its unique characteristics.
In 2000, the family decided to give this much loved family home and garden, including Lower Greenway Farm, to the National Trust.
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2000-onwards... The National Trust
Following the generous gift of Greenway, the acquisition was secured with funds raised by the Neptune Coastline Campaign. The 121 hectare (300-acre) estate comprises Greenway House and garden, Lower Greenway Farm and adjoining parkland and woodland, much of which fronts the River Dart.
The Trust aims to retain the spirit of the place, its almost wayward character, its atmospheric beauty, and its timeless qualities. Care will be taken to nurture the garden and safeguard the excitement, the mystery and the wildness. Greenway will not be a 'found lost garden'.
To help piece together the jigsaw of Greenway, we have had the benefit of valuable resources: the donor family, who have known the estate for 60 years; two previous head gardeners and other staff, who have notched up 88 years work on the gardens at Greenway.
All have contributed to the surveys commissioned by the Trust. Surveys have been carried out by Trust specialists and external contractors on Greenway's garden history, archaeology and horticulture. The garden has been measured and mapped with the tagging of 2,700 significant trees and woody plants. Already much has been done, but there is much still to do.
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