Sheffield Park Garden

Sheffield Park Garden is an informal landscape garden five miles east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex, England. It was originally laid out in the 18th century by Capability Brown, and further developed as a woodland garden in the early 20th century by its then owner, Arthur Gilstrap Soames. It is now owned by the National Trust.

For the district of Sheffield, see Sheffield Park (UK Parliament constituency).

Sheffield Park Garden
Sheffield Park Garden
Sheffield Park Garden (East Sussex)

History

The gardens originally formed part of the estate of the adjacent Sheffield Park House, a gothic country house, which is still in private ownership today.

Panorama looking over ‘10-Foot Pond’ towards Sheffield Park House

Sheffield Park as an estate is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In August 1538, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, entertained King Henry VIII here. By 1700, the Deer Park had been partially formalised by Lord De La Warr, who planted avenues of trees radiating from the house and cleared areas to establish lawns.

In 1769, the estate was sold to aspiring politician John Holroyd. He was created Baron Sheffield in 1781 whereafter it was called "Sheffield Park", and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1783.[1] John lived there with his wife Maria and spent a fortune on his house and estate. James Wyatt remodelled the house in the fashionable Gothic style and Capability Brown was commissioned to landscape the garden.[1] Humphry Repton followed Brown in 1789–1790. The original four lakes form the centrepiece of the garden. It is particularly noted for its plantings of trees selected for autumn colour, including many Black Tupelos.

Rhododendron in Sheffield Park Garden

In 1876 the third Earl of Sheffield laid out a cricket pitch. It was used on 12 May 1884 for a cricket match between Lord Sheffield's XI and Australia.[2] The Australian team won by an innings and 6 runs.[3]

By 1885, an arboretum was being established, consisting of both exotic and native trees.

Arthur Gilstrap Soames purchased the estate in 1909 and continued large-scale planting. Upon his death in 1934, the mansion and estate were inherited by his nephew, Arthur Granville Soames.[4] During World War II, the house and garden became the headquarters for a Canadian armoured division, and Nissen huts were sited in the garden and woods. The estate was split up and sold in lots in 1953.[5]

The National Trust purchased approximately 40 hectares in 1954, now up to 80 ha with subsequent additions. It is home to the National Collection of Ghent azaleas.

The estate was used for exterior shooting in the 1961 film, The Innocents, where it served as the Gothic Bly Manor, the setting of the Henry James novella, The Turn of the Screw.

See also

References
  1. "Holroyd, John Baker, first earl of Sheffield (1735–1821), politician". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13608. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 4 January 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. National Trust - Sheffield Park Gardens History Archived 2005-10-30 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "The Home of CricketArchive".
  4. Nymans: The Story of a Sussex Garden, Shirley Nicholson, 1992, pp. 53, 122
  5. "Additional Manuscripts, Catalogue EE".
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