Hadspen house and garden

Hadspen house and garden is an estate between Pitcombe and Ansford, Somerset.

Hadspen House was purchased before 1747 by Vickris Dickinson, and then sold in 1767 to Charles Medows and subsequently to John Ford who in 1785 sold it to Henry Hobhouse.^[1] His son Arthur was born there and it has remained in the family ever since.^[2]

House

The house was built for William Player in the late 17th century, but has undergone several major restorations. It is built of Cary stone ashlar, with a hipped Welsh slate roof behind parapets and stone chimney stacks. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building.^[3]

Within the grounds are a coachhouse,^[4] cottage,^[5] granary,^[6] southwest lodge,^[7] stables^[8] and summerhouse.^[9] There are also plans to build a number of modern follies in the grounds.^[10]

The clock house was an old barn converted into a modern five-bedroom dwelling in 2000.^[11]

Garden

William Player created formal gardens and courts around the house within a private park of 300 acres (1.2 km²) with two fountains, and planted avenues on three axes. The plantations behind the house were cut in the mid 18th century by vistas and ornamented with an artificial mount and a seat.^[12] The terraces and formal gardens were created in the 20th century around the house and on Pen Hill, including a large walled area later associated with a commercial nursery.

Within and around the 3,000 square metres (1 acre) old walled vegetable garden a twentieth century Arts and Crafts garden was created by Penelope Hobhouse, with later development by Nori and Sandra Pope. It was opened to visitors in 1970. Hellebores and hostas were bred here. During 2007 the garden was the subject of an open design competition,^[13] which was widely advertised in national print and broadcast media, but which also attracted some controversy about the appropriateness of the competition, including the bulldozing of the old garden ^[14][15]. There was also subsequently a lack of publicity surrounding selection of any succeeding design. The garden has not re-opened to the public and its current state is perhaps most succinctly described as a concept in development.

References