Newby Hall was built between 1691-1695 and shortly afterwards the owner, Sir Edward Blackett, commissioned Peter Aram as head gardener to lay out formal gardens and avenues in keeping with the period.

Very little of Aram's layout for Newby remains today and the present design is largely attributable to the present owner's grandfather, the late Major Edward Compton, who inherited Newby in 1921.

 

Influenced by Lawrence Johnston's Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire, Major Compton decided to create a main axis for the garden running from the south front of the house right down to the River Ure. The axis consisted of double herbaceous borders flanked by double yew hedges with a broad grass walk running down the middle. Off it he planned compartmented gardens of formal design like rooms off the main passage of a house - each filled with plants to be at their best for different seasons - truly a 'Garden for all Seasons'.

The gardens he created over 50 years cover 40 acres and make a great contribution to 20th century gardening design.

 

Major Compton died in 1977 and left a daunting challenge to the present owners parents', Mr and Mrs Robin Compton. His 'Grand Design' needed labour-intensive maintenance and, in the last years lacked it, so the garden had fallen into a sorry state. Fortunately Robin Compton had spent most of his leisure hours, away from business activities, gardening and studying plants and how they behave and Jane Compton was also passionately interested in flowers, possessing an unusual flair for colour and design.

 

Today they have totally restored and replanted these lovely gardens over a ten year period. They have been honoured to win the BTA Heritage Award acknowledging their outstanding contribution to tourism for the restoration of Newby Hall and Gardens and the HHA/Christie's Garden of the Year Award.

 

As President of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens and helped by Jane Compton's artistic eye, Robin Compton has filled Newby Gardens with rare and beautiful plants, many of which may be bought at the Plant Centre.

The gardens also hold the National Collection of Cornus (Dogwoods).

 

Garden leaflets with suggested walks through the gardens are available to help visitors decide where to go and what to see at each time of the year. They contain a map too as twenty-five acres of gardens can be confusing!

 

A visit to the Adventure Gardens, which were designed in the Year of the Child, is not to be missed, nor is a memorable ride through the gardens on the miniature railway alongside the river.

 

 

Newby's gardens offer variety throughout the seasons. There's always something beautiful to see and enjoy.

 

 

Many of our rare and beautiful plants are available for sale at the Newby Hall Plant Centre near the Visitor Centre.