Re-rambling the roses: preserving Polesden's pergola
- Published:
- 12 August 2025
We are raising funds to replace the wooden pergola that sits at the heart of Margaret Greville’s beloved Rose Garden and safeguard its future for many more years to come. Read on to find out how you can help.
Roses and Polesden Lacey
Roses have long played an important part in Polesden Lacey’s story. Previous owner, Margaret Greville adored roses and oversaw the creation of a Rose Garden in the grounds, close to the main house. A wide variety of historic roses were planted within a charming walled garden, intersected by a wooden pergola, covered in rambling and climbing varieties. Margaret Greville entertained many important visitors in the Rose Garden, including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who spent the first two weeks of their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey in 1923.
Polesden Lacey’s Rose Garden continues to be a place to make precious memories Today, its rose-scented corridors provide a gentle, welcoming place to unwind in nature and enjoy a moment of tranquillity.
What will the work involve?
Using sweet chestnut timber, coppiced and harvested from the estate over winter (to reduce sap flow and prevent the timber from splitting), the Rose Garden's pergola will be carefully reconstructed in a way that supports responsible woodland management. The project will offer opportunities for volunteers and local craftspeople to participate in heritage restoration using traditional conservation and woodworking techniques.
Polesden Lacey’s gardening team will support specialist contractors to prepare the materials and install them in a structurally sound and historically sympathetic manner. Unfortunately removing the rose pergola will also require taking out the existing roses; however, some of the roses are suffering due to old age, disease and the effects of climate change. We will also need to close the Rose Garden to visitors at some point in the future while vital parts of the work are carried out - we will give plenty of notice of any anticipated closures.
By carrying out this essential work, we can preserve the Rose Garden pergola’s historical integrity, enhance visitors’ experiences of this tranquil part of the garden and prevent further deterioration that could result in higher restoration costs or serious structural issues further down the line.
How can you support the project?
Like any replacement project of this kind, the costs to replace the pergola and ensure the work is both sustainable and of the highest quality possible are not insignificant. The total project cost is estimated to be £160,000. We are extremely pleased to already have an investment of £80,000 to get things underway. However, we need to match that amount by a further £80,000 to safeguard the Rose Garden’s future. We warmly invite you to be part of the story.
Your support can help us not only in preserving an iconic area of Polesden Lacey but also aid us in developing more sustainable environments for the roses that Margaret Greville loved so much. If you are interested in helping preserve the rose pergola, there are several ways in which you can support our fundraising campaign:
- Purchase an exclusive rose pergola pin badge from visitor reception or the gift shop at Polesden Lacey for a suggested donation of £3.
- Donate what you can spare in person when you visit Polesden Lacey (more details about donating by text and online coming soon).
- Ask about volunteering at Polesden Lacey to help care for the new generation of plants growing in Mrs Greville’s beloved walled Rose Garden.
Thank you for your support. We hope that you will consider becoming part of the Rose Garden’s next chapter as we work to raise the funds necessary to bring these exciting plans to life over the next few years.