The Gardens
Newby’s award winning gardens, mostly created in the early 1920s, have evolved over the years making a major contribution to 20th century gardening.
Explore The Gardens
Herbaceous Border
Sylvia’s Garden
Autumn Garden
National Cornus Collection
Rose Garden
Water Garden
East Rock Garden
Robin’s Walk
White Garden
Woodland Garden
Rock Garden
Tropical Garden
Beacon Garden
Curving Pergola
Orchard Garden
Herbaceous Border
The double herbaceous border-at 172m in length-is one of the longest in the country. With its north-south axis, the border holds the fine William & Mary house at the top, and slopes down to the River Ure at the bottom.
In the past few years the entire border has been replanted, as although many of the plants were performing well enough, they were ready to be lifted and divided. This gave the opportunity to overhaul completely the planting scheme, and present a more cohesive design. The work was undertaken in two phases, during the closed season. The first phase was completed in the Autumn of 2013, and the second, larger one in the winter of 2015.
Plant establishment has been excellent, with many plants bulking up and achieving almost their full height in one season’s growth. This is surely a testament to the importance of soil preparation and the siting of this border, which provides near perfect conditions for these herbaceous plants to flourish. A new, modern colour palette has been incorporated, with plant colour and form carefully chosen by Lucinda Compton, Garden Curator. Softer pastels are strengthened by vibrant lilacs, magenta pink, lime green, claret and silver; all colours reflected in the trees beyond. Within the new design, Newby favourites such as Delphinium cultivars and Campanula lactiflora are still well represented, sitting comfortably with exciting new introductions. Architectural forms already encompassed by Cynara (artichoke) and Eryngium, are strengthened by the giant Scotch thistle, Onopordum acanthium. Crambe cordifolia gives a wonderful bridal bouquet of white flowers in late May, and later a fine skeleton of tiny dew drops. Aster sp. have readily bulked up; full of flower in late August, their pinks and lilacs compliment the strong claret of Dahlias ‘Hillcrest Royal’ and ‘Admiral Rawlings’. Colourful frontal plants including Sedum ‘Red Cauli, S. ’Green Expectations’ and Origanum dot their way down the beds, punctuated by the magenta of long flowering Geranium ‘Patricia’, thus ensuring there is colour from late Spring through to late Summer.
This border is a wonderful haven for bees, butterflies and dragonflies, and is worthy of more than one visit during the open season.
Sylvia’s Garden
Sylvia’s Garden is a garden of formality, although the overall effect is soft and subtle due to its planting style. A quiet and peaceful place, it is the perfect setting to sit down, relax and contemplate.
This was one of the earliest compartmented gardens designed by Major Compton in 1930 and covers the same proportions as an earlier Victorian garden, which it replaced. He named it after his wife, Sylvia Farquharson (later becoming her memorial garden), and it was planted to peak in May (to coincide with York Races).
Throughout, the hard landscaping is very formal, with three distinct sunken levels paved with York stone and brick. An ancient stone Byzantine corngrinder is the ornate centrepiece. All three levels are now planted to flower all season giving extra interest, some plants placed formally such as the four Rosa ‘Ballerina’ in the lower beds and Iris flavescens on some of the main axis. The majority of the planting however is relaxed, using plants such as Paeonia lactiflora cultivars and Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ during the early season, moving through to Gaura lindheimeri, Dahlia merckii, Delphinium cultivars, Argyranthemums and Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’ to name a few.
The colour palette is soft with whites, pinks, purples and blues being dominant. However, to prevent the overall appearance looking too bland we have added a touch of soft yellow and magenta. The dark Yew hedge (currently being renovated) which surrounds the garden is a perfect backdrop to show off the colours.
Autumn Garden
The Autumn Garden is a compartmental walled garden on the site of the old Croquet Lawn. The wall was erected in the mid 1990s to give more protection for some of the shrubs which are of interest such as the sweet smelling Clerodendron trichotomum var. fargesii (the foliage doesn’t smell so good).
Two interesting but very spiky plants are Colletia armata ‘Rosea’,(the original specimen died and a plant propagated from this has been planted) and Poncirus trifoliata (Japanese Bitter Orange) with small sweet scented white flowers producing globular fruits like miniature oranges and thorns up to 50mm in length.
More unusual Hydrangea grown in the Autumn Garden include:
Hydrangea quercifolia – a medium sized white flowered shrub with oak shaped (Quercus) leaves which have good autumn colours.
Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group – a large shrub with enormous leaves producing showy heads of pale blue flowers with a ring of lilac/pink florets.
Hydrangea aspera var. sargentiana – large shrub with shoots thickly clothed in a curious moss-like covering of hairs and bristles. Its leaves are very large and velvety and the flowers are made up of blue and white inflorescences.
The garden showcases many late summer flowering herbaceous Salvias in a wide range of colours and heights including our own Salvia microphylla ‘Newby Hall’ the distinct Salvia discolour with its silvery grey foliage with almost black flowers and pure blue Salvia patens which can be grown from seed. There is a range of some 40 Salvias grown in the Autumn Garden. Some of the best include Salvia microphylla ‘Royal Bumble’, S. ‘Indigo Spires’, S. ‘Nachtvlinder’, S.’Amistad’ & S.’Dyson’s Crimson.
Dahlias are carefully selected annually to give an exuberant colourful display of varying heights and forms of flower with exotic purples, radiant reds, blousy pinks, moody maroons and many more. They form the backbone of the planting which is done on an annual basis with some 800 or so plants all grown in house – as a consequence the Autumn Garden is never the same from year to year.
Other late-flowering herbaceous plants are grown with a view to attract bees/hoverflies/butterflies. These include varieties of Sedum, Echinacea and Phlox. Verbena bonariensis has a very good light and airy effect when grown with other more dense plants. The feast of flowers develops in August and continues through late summer until the first hard frosts of in October.
National Cornus Collection
Newby Hall’s National Collection of Cornus was started by Mr Robin Compton VMH in 1990. He was an astute Plantsman with a particular passion for trees and shrubs and was already familiar with the genus Cornus.
The collection began its life after Mr Compton moved a struggling Cornus florida Rubra Group from near the hall and replanted it in what subsequently became Cornus Bed 1. The specimen responded by growing well, and the collection was born. His father Major Compton had been growing the most worthy species such as Cornus kousa &C. mas for many years – the oldest example is the fine Cornus kousa on the south-east corner of Cornus Bed 1 planted in 1937.
We now have an extensive and diverse collection of over 100 individual specimens with 30 species represented by 76 different hybrids and forms.
If you would like to find out more about National Collections in the UK the Plant Heritage website can be accessed at http://www.nccpg.com.
Cornus Trail Booklet
This booklet trail has been put together to show the amazing diversity of this varied genus of shrubs and small trees. When considering Dogwoods most people tend to think of small shrubs grown primarily for their stunning show of coloured winter stems. Our National Collection is, however composed of the lesser known, but equally stunning range of Cornus known collectively as ‘Flowering Dogwoods’. These are varied, the majority producing flowers consisting of four or more bracts – looking very much like petals encircling a small head of greenish flowers. Others produce more showy true flowers in small heads of white or yellow.
This booklet contains just a small selection of the plants we grow, and throughout this guided walk, you may well notice more Cornus species, hybrids and cultivars.
Copies of the Cornus trail booklet have been put together by the gardening team and are available in the Entrance Pavilion.
Rose Garden
A quintessentially English style garden containing an abundance of old fashioned Roses and scented plants. Although its peak is in June and July when the roses are at their best, it does however have something to offer all year due to the clever use of underplanting.
The Rose Garden was designed just before the Second World War by Major Compton, and replaced an old grass tennis court. He wrote at the time, “Background is so important for Roses. At Newby we tried the experiment of a sunken garden with flagstones and a surrounding hedge of copper beech”.
This is a formal garden of straight lines, the centrepiece being a circular pool with a stone urn fountain, mirroring the Autumn Garden to the east. The pool was added as recently as 1992 by Mr Robin Compton. At each entrance the planting is formal – Viburnum davidii being a useful naturally mound forming evergreen – and Dianthus ‘Moulin Rouge’ is used as an edging plant to mirror the shape of the pool.
The roses themselves are predominantly old fashioned hybrids and cultivars: gallicas, damasks, albas, centifolias and mosses. Most of these only flower once, the peak season being June into July, although some such as the more modern Austin hybrids will repeat flower. To extend the season of interest we plant annuals between the roses, such as Salvia, Cleome, and Cosmos, changing the combinations on a yearly basis to add extra interest. The purple beech hedge that surrounds the garden is an excellent foil for the profusion of colour within. A garden seat is provided above the garden itself giving a stunning view of the roses and on towards the Ferry disaster monument.
Water Garden
The highlight of the Water Garden is undoubtedly the stunning display of Harlow Carr Primulas that commences in May.
The myriad shades of pastel that proliferate in the garden (as a result of the Primulas’ readiness to hybridise amongst themselves),is reminiscent of the temptations on display in an old-fashioned sweet shop counter! Visitors often comment on how breath-taking they find the Water Garden at the Primulas’ peak.
Within the garden a manmade stream follows the natural contours of a downward slope into a large pool. This habitat provides ideal conditions for water-loving and marginal plants such as Iris, the magnificent Gunnera manicata, pretty Caltha palustris and the dark red foliage of the ornamental rhubarb Rheum palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’.
In Spring Lysichiton americanum (Bog Arum) is one of the first plants to appear around the pond with its paddle-shaped leaves and yellow spathes offering welcome colour and a reassuring sign that winter has passed. A new planting of Brunnera alongside the pond together with the Darmera peltata help build on the early momentum of Camellias (C. japonica ‘Debbie’ and ‘Gloire de Nantes’) and Rhododendrons (R. loderi ‘King George’ with glorious trusses of pale pink flowers).
Away from the water Bamboos, choice shrubs and trees (notably Nyssa sylvatica, the Black Gum tree and Stuartia pseudocamellia) are planted to provide height, shelter and deepen the interplay between light and shade, creating a peaceful environment where it is a simple pleasure to sit on the white wooden bench for a moment or two and listen to the bird song.
In 2015 we completed the planting of the area on the far side of the pond – a spot which had until recent times been dominated by a large Cedar. We decided that the main emphasis would be to introduce additional mid to late Summer colour to the Water Garden, and with this in mind, the planting has incorporated the likes of Fillipendula venusta, Sanguisorba canadensis, Persicaria ‘Blackfield’ and Lobelia siphilitica to deliver a combination of white, pinks, lilacs and purples intermingled with blue foliage Hostas.
East Rock Garden
The East Rock Garden has undergone as dramatic a change since 2013 as any garden area. Prior to 2013 it was a dark zone dominated by a number of densely planted conifers providing little opportunity for new plants to establish.
The removal of the conifers (necessary as a result of storm damage) presented us with the opportunity to create something new and the ground was cleared and interesting shrubs such as Euonymus (E. alatus and hamiltonianus), Osmanthus (O. yunnanensis and armatus), Viburnum furcatum and Drymis lanceolate were introduced. A number of Cistus were added together with Ceanothus and an impressively-striped Acer tegmentosum ‘White Tigress’. The garden was beginning to take shape.
Once we had our structural plants in place, we continued to develop the garden and created a series of different plant combinations that meant the East Rock Garden would have a distinctly differing personality depending on the time of year.
In early Spring, there are Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’, Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ and hundreds of dark ‘Havran’ Tulips set off against a backdrop of dark earth and white star-shaped Magnolia stellata flowers and the faintest pink hue of a large Camellia japonica magnolifolia.
Late Spring into early summer sees the transition to a rather older-fashioned colour combination of yellow and pinky-purple provided by Syssirinchium striatum and Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea and alba) respectively. It is easy to imagine this colour combination is in keeping with the 1930s, which is around the time this particular area of the garden was created, and forms a link to the past.
Mid-to late Summer witnesses the final move to a more contemporary combination of predominantly darker purple, white and unusually fresh green (for this time of year) provided by Verbena bonariensis and the flowers and ‘zingy’ green foliage of Nicotiana (sylvestris, langsdorffii and ‘Lime Green’).
We are pleased with our progress to date although there is more to be done, and The East Rock Garden continues to mature and develop. No doubt there will be further improvements to this part of the garden by the time you next visit us at Newby Hall.
Robin’s Walk
Gardens never stand still, and in late 2009 this area was redesigned following the deterioration of many roses through old age and disease.
Some of our visitors may remember this area as the “War of the Roses”, which contained Rosa x alba ‘Alba Maxima’ (white rose of York), Rosa gallica var. officinalis (red rose of Lancaster), and Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’ (a mix of both colours), representing the Civil war between the houses of York and Lancaster.
The new idea was developed by the late Mr. Robin Compton, and involved planting several standard Olives (Olea europaea) with an under planting of soft yellow and blue flowering herbaceous perennials. He explained, “Now peace has broken out at Newby”.
Unfortunately the planting of the Olives coincided with one of the coldest winters in recent years, and they quickly died. Undaunted we replaced them the following summer, only to find them hit by even colder weather the following winter. A rethink was needed, and it was agreed that the colour combination of yellow and blue perennials was strong enough to stand on its own without additional planting. To improve the feel of the area we stripped it clean once again, and decided to try a new planting style for us at Newby. Instead of our usual groups of blocks, drifts, and clumps, we decided to plant singly and randomly with a few choice plants, repeating them throughout the garden area. Plants such as Scabiosa columbaria subsp. ochroleuca, Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion’, Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’ (pale yellows), and Eryngium planum, Geranium ‘Orion’, Iris sibirica (blue) now create a soft meadow like tapestry of colour throughout the season. The whole garden buzzes with insect life, and has at last become a big success.
White Garden
The centre-piece of the White Garden consists of two identical beds shaped to echo the simple classical design of the Lily Pond that is situated in front of the hall. These beds contain a variety of white-flowering plants chosen to deliver a harmonious and contrasting range of height, flowering times, scent, foliage and texture.
From Spring through to Autumn these beds contain a mixture of herbaceous perennials, bulbs, annuals and the singular delicately-flowered shrub Fuchsia ‘Hawkshead’ to ensure the White Garden is always full of interest for visitors.
Plants appearing in the centre beds include the elegant Tulipa ‘Triumphator’ a range of Sanguisorba’s (S. tenuifolia’s, ‘Ivory Towers’ and Burr Blanc’), Maiananthemum racemosum, the stately Allium ‘Everest’, Ranunculus aconitifolius ‘Flore Pleno’ and the surprisingly grand and seemingly well-kept secret Galtonia canadensis which resembles a multi-flowered snowdrop on steroids!
The raised beds running parallel to the centre beds contain a range of white-flowering shrubs such as the wonderfully scented Philadephus ‘Belle Etoile’ (Mock Orange), along with Spirea and Exochorda, and also includes the impressive and rare Viburnum macrocephaelum. This is a plant whose large globular blooms (initially a bright acidic green before turning white), often confuse people into thinking we have a very early flowering variety of Hydrangea. Unusual herbaceous perennials include Anthericum racemosum (St. Bernard’s Lily) and Laserpitium siler.
The use of silver and glaucous foliage plants is particularly important in this monochrome garden as they offer a relief to the broad spectrum of the dominant greens. Both Artemisia ‘Valerie Finnis’ and A. ludoviciana ‘Silver Queen’, the rock rose Helianthemum ‘The Bride’ and Lysimachia ephemerum work to good effect in this respect.
Woodland Garden
The Woodland Garden is an informal and relaxed garden with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. A good number of the trees and shrubs planted in this area were collected by ‘Chinese Wilson’ (perhaps the most extensive collector of them all) and are beautifully represented in this true ‘Plantsmans’ garden.
There are many exciting and valuable examples here, from larger specimens such as the ‘Pocket Handkerchief Tree’ Davidia involucrata, a quick growing tree whose distinctive bracts are produced even on relatively young specimens, to low growing groundcover gems such as Epimedium. At any time of the year this is a pleasurable area with something to see and savour.
Whilst Newby is generally an alkaline garden we are fortunate there is more acidity here allowing Rhododendrons and other acid loving plants to thrive.
A lovely clump of Himalayan birch Betula utilis var. jacquemontii with snow-white boles dominates the heart of this garden. Other rare and interesting shrubs grown include Trochodendron aralioides, with leathery fig-like leaves and green flowers in racemes. Halesia carolina, the snowdrop tree is nearby. Of note above the Birch stand is a striking snowbell tree, Styrax hemsleyana, covered with hanging white bells in late May flanked by Sycopsis sinensis with yellow flowers and red stamens showing its relationship to witch hazels and the unusual intergeneric hybrid X Sycoparrotia persica.
Following a devastating gale in 2008 the ‘Bryant & May’ bed (named as a joke after a bonfire went out of control) was created. For the very long term a Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ was planted, after being donated by the National Garden Scheme. Other woodland trees and shrubs include Oak, Betula, Halesia and Hamamelis. The intention for developing this border and the adjacent area (described below) is to extend the Woodland Garden considerably.
Adjacent to the ‘Bryant & May bed, a very difficult environment greets us – CLAY. We generally have a light sandy soil but we do have seams of clay running throughout the gardens. Most of these areas have been used for tougher protective plantings such as Portugal Laurel, allowing the more favorable soil to be used for choicer plants. To develop and extend the Woodland Garden we have moved into this unfamiliar ground. Thankfully all the trees and shrubs have done really well (we did put some drainage in). Oak, Liquidamber, Magnolia and Nyssa are represented as well as more unusual specimens such as Chionanthus virginicus.
As these areas mature, the Woodland Garden range will extend from the Herbaceous Border to the Curving pergola and from the Middle Walk to the River Walk, proportionally a much better size.
Rock Garden
This is a fascinating and unique garden, both for what it is now and for its future potential. It was once very overgrown and dark, but now it is an area of allure and mystery with many varied paths criss-crossing.
The primary features are the rocks themselves, goodness knows how heavy some of them are! Many are like icebergs, whatever is visible above ground there is plenty more hidden below soil level. Look out for the chisselled holes that can be seen on several of the larger examples. These were to give purchase when lifting them from the river and then positioning them.
Key features in the middle of the garden are a waterfall and a lovely old stone bridge, which is in fact an aqueduct (originally built to carry water piped from a huge tower above the house 400 yards away). The waterfall fell into disuse during the Second World War and was restored by pumping water from the river to the top of the aqueduct in 1980.
To support the rock features we have begun introducing unusual plants in niches to give a ‘wow, what is that’ reaction. Much of the garden has quite a ‘woodsy’ feel to it, rather than a more typical open free draining rock garden in full sun. Plants such as Arisaema, Trillium & Podophyllum thrive here.
Over the last couple of years Ken Briggs (one of our volunteers) has kindly taken on the research into the Rock Garden’s history. It has been fascinating and we have learnt so much. Some things we knew have been confirmed, others dispelled. Suffice to say we know now it was started just before the First World War with completion coming in 1914 as many of the Estate workers headed off to France.
We are now ready for the next phase of introducing new and exciting plants. What is imperative during this process is that we maintain the feel of the Rock Garden and outwardly change very little.
Tropical Garden
The variety of plants that can be grown this far north is a constant surprise. We have found that by thoughtful selection (and keeping our fingers crossed that we don’t encounter a winter as severe as those of 2010 & 2011), taking the occasional risk with a more tender plant can pay off (Lobelia tupa, for example).
However, whilst we are ably assisted by well positioned shrubbery and shelter-belts, some plants just will not tolerate prolonged periods of low temperatures and frost.
With this in mind, our Tropical Garden includes significant plantings of exotic-looking shrubs and plants with foliage reminiscent of those thriving in the tropics; Yuccas (Adam’s needle), Eryngiums (Sea Holly), Phormiums and the strikingly gold-coloured but almost unpronounceable Japanese grass Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, all appear in the foreground.
Further back are a number of particularly interesting specimens such as Eucalyptus gunnii, a number of different Paulownias (the Foxglove tree) and the Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum awabuki) to name a few.
Every year we intersperse the perennial plants with highly-coloured tender exotics such as Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflower), Leonotis leonorus (Lion’s Tail), Phytolacca ‘Lakka Boom’ and the Castor Oil plant (Ricinus sp.) to provide that intense burst of colour we associate with all things ‘tropical’.
One particular aim of this garden is to create an ideal density of planting that is suggestive of the feeling of heaviness or even claustrophobia that exists in a natural tropical environment. It is something that we continue to focus on.
Whilst Summer is the best time to see the Tropical Garden, Springtime also delivers a wonderful show of flowering Magnolias that line the pathway (M. soulangeana, M. soulangeana alba, brozzonii, nigra, lennei and the rare dawsoniana).
Beacon Garden
To the east of the herbaceous border is the circular Beacon Garden, denoted by the tall Beacon positioned at its centre, and erected to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The Compton family crest incorporates a beacon, and this monument within the garden cleverly references this heraldic device.
Planted in the green beneath the structure are hundreds of Narcissi, to welcome our Spring visitors. Surrounding this central feature, are four beds planted with a central Weeping Pear Pyrus salicifolia, underplanted with a carpet of Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’. Several Magnolias are planted in the outlying beds; the April flowering Magnolia x loebneri cultivars ‘Leonard Messel’ and ‘Merrill White’ followed later by the red/purple flowers of ‘Susan’ and the yellow hues of ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Yellow Lantern’. The beautiful oriental Magnolia flowers are complemented in May by the frilly blooms of pale pink and deep red Paeony species. The Paeonia officinalis are the first to bloom, and as they fade the Paeonia lactiflora open, to give several weeks of colour.
The island bed has recently been replanted, after the removal of a large planting of pink Geranium. This has allowed for a more interesting collection of plants to be used: Helleborus foetidus, Bergenia ‘Baby Doll’, Anemone tomentosa, Geranium ‘Philippe Vapelle’ and Roscoea purpurea which provide a longer season of interest.
Other shrubs of note are Cercis siliquastrum commonly known as the Judas Tree, which has tiny bright pink flowers before the leaf appears. The same bed also hosts two Rhodotypos scandens which are rarely grown, and a Euonymus alatus, which has spectacular flame coloured leaves in Autumn. Edging this bed and the one opposite are informal rows of Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’, its delicate variegated leaves softening the entrance to the garden. A Malus siebaldii (Crab Apple) with a frontal planting of Hydrangea panniculata ‘Grandiflora’ offer further interest. Beyond the immediate area of the Beacon Garden, a path lined each side by a colourful mass planting of Astilbe species in various shades of red and pink, leads onto the Rhododendron Walk.
Curving Pergola
The pergola was originally designed to make an attractive approach to the Rock Garden, with sandstone pillars and cross beams clad with Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’, beautiful racemes form a spectacular curtain of gold in late May.
This display is stunning and worth a visit when it reaches its peak usually between late May and early June.
Some of the individual Laburnum specimens are very old indeed, being one of the earliest plantings of this tree, following its introduction to Britain. They have amazing structure and presence and are greatly valued by all. The gardens are continually changing and to maintain its beauty new specimens are being added, to replace the older trees.
There are intimate planting niches on both sides which are home to some favourite plants. Recently we have increased the range of early flowering perennials below the pergola taking advantage of the sunlight still reaching the floor, before the developing Laburnum foliage creates a barrier.
Magnolias add to the floral display, and in the autumn Malus transitoria, a rare ornamental apple from China, produces yellow fruits and beautiful foliage.
Orchard Garden
This garden has a very conspicuous feel of informality despite there being a strong design structure.
The central circular bed, the geometric arrangement of fruit trees (Quince and Apple), and the lines of the four Philadelphus hedges creating a square-within-a-square (reflective of the garden’s boundary walls), are all intrinsically softened by the late Spring blossoms of fruit trees, flowering Philadelphus hedges and Crab Apple (‘Red Sentinel’) espalier.
In the Orchard Garden we allow sections of the grass to grow longer with connective paths mown through them, and in Autumn 2015 we planted those areas of longer grass with Tulipa sylvestris and Fritillaria meleagris, which we hope will add to the sense of a relaxed space and enhance the garden’s late Spring show. The underplanting of Erigeron karvinskianus beneath the ‘Red Sentinel’ espalier adds longevity to the ‘frothy’ blossom effect within the Orchard Garden and continues to flower strongly throughout the whole of summer.
The top bed (South-facing) of the Orchard Garden contains some interesting Magnolias (‘Maryland’ and M. grandiflora ‘Goliath’) both of which produce very large blooms and flower later in the year than most Magnolias. There is a large Wisteria ‘Caroline’ and a fantastic early-flowering, thornless Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’ which has enough protection to produce a good show year on year. There are a good number of smaller perennials and annuals present including Veronica ‘Georgia Blue’ and ‘Ionian Skies’, Phlox subulata, and a number of Diascias.
Notably, the East bed contains two mature wall-trained roses: Rosa ‘Alfred Carriere’ and Rosa ‘Alchemist’. Both are fantastic roses and both have the ability to tear a gardener to shreds!
Our Double Herbaceous Border is a crescendo of summer colour
As we move into August there is so much to see in the garden. The double Herbaceous Border is full of colour with undulating drifts of flowering perennials. Echinacea, Lythrum and Sanguisorba mingle with insect friendly Eryngium, Echinops and Veronicastrum. Walking down the border don’t miss the exquisite shell panels inside the pavilions just before the river.
Sylvia’s Garden continues to offer a peaceful and dreamy retreat sit on a corner among the soft delicate planting.
Drop into the Autumn Garden and see our wonderful New World Salvias, probably the largest collection in the north. Or wander through the Woodland Garden and Rock Garden.
There are so many possible ways to walk around, choose your own route and enjoy the garden.
Robin Compton’s History of The Gardens
Aram’s original garden design
Designed by Christopher Wren 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, with the Lime Avenue to the far west being the only area of this elaborate design remaining within the garden. Interestingly there is another section of the radiating Lime Avenues on the Kip engraving extending through the farm land towards Ripon Cathedral.
The working area – bothy, stables, kitchen garden etc can be seen much further west than they are now. These original structures are close to the foundations of the earlier Newby house, which Blackett demolished.
Burges and the Victorian influence
For around 150 years the gardens had little input from the family – Weddell’s grand tour had consumed large amounts of time and money. Following Frederick Vyner’s death and the building ofChurch of Christ the Consoler, William Burges was commissioned by Lady Mary Vyner to improve some areas of the garden. Most notably he redesigned and extended the Statue Walk, introducing the splendid Caen seat at the west end, opposite the upper Italianate seat. Click here to read more about the Hall’s history.
The Victorian input can be seen in the picture above showing the intricate parterre with scrolls, coloured gravel and beyond the balustrading ivy clad iron hoops. Today during very dry spells the grass turns brown where the original gravel paths were, showing in great detail the precise layout and dimensions of the parterre. The balustrading you see was later moved further south just above the Herbaceous Border by Major Compton. In the Victorian image, the grazing field between the parterre and the river is now our main double herbaceous border.
Major Compton’s 20th Century creation
The present design is largely attributable to the present owner’s grandfather, Major Edward Compton, who inherited Newby in 1921. Influenced by his friend 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 this 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 in different seasons – truly a ‘Garden for all Seasons’.
The gardens he created over a period of 50 years cover 40 acres, and make a great contribution to 20th century gardening design.
Mr Robin’s vision for a modern garden
“I found I had inherited an exceptionally beautiful home but no garden to speak of – a lovely picture but no frame.”
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 unfortunately this wasn’t given in his later years, allowing the garden to fall into a sorry state. Fortunately Robin Compton VMH 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. They totally restored and replanted these lovely gardens over a ten year period. It was a well deserved honour 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. We regularly feature in the Yorkshire in Bloom winners list with the recent highlight being overall category winners in 2011.
The Gardens provide a fitting tribute and memorial to Mr Robin Compton who with passion and enthusiasm continued the garden’s development after his fathers’ initial Grand Design. Mr Robin Compton died in November 2009.
A new generation at Newby
The management of the Gardens has been taken over by Mrs Lucinda Compton alongside Lawrence Wright, Head Gardener. Along with the dedicated team and invaluable volunteer help we are all enthusiastic about both maintaining the high standard of the garden and also taking it forward to even higher levels.
You will see lots of interesting plants as well as renovation of existing areas, combined with new developments and themes. We are very fortunate to have inherited such a solid garden design, and to be honest there is no need or desire on our part to change the near perfect balance of the garden layout. Instead we can concentrate on growing and grouping good plants, to create a beautiful garden.
What is clear, is that it is both a privilege and honour to be involved in the magnificence of Newby Hall Gardens.
As custodians of a great garden – the future?
As mentioned earlier, the garden design as you see it on your visit today is relatively modern. There is undeniably a much older and mature feel to the garden largely due to the wonderful trees all around; Beech, Oak and Lime stand majestically over colour below. As with so many garden landscapes those who planted these trees never saw them in their full glory, they planted with a vision for the future, and so it is for us today. We too must look 200, 300 or even 500 years ahead and plant appropriate trees. We all hope the garden, in the future, will not change too dramatically, and that our small input will be appreciated and valued. Much has been written about climate change on both sides of the argument, and without getting bogged down in the debate, it may influence the plants we grow, particularly the trees we select.