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Saturday 10 August 2019

A Little Bit Of Switzerland

Having looked at the Tiger Moth aeroplanes at Old Warden it would be logical and sensible to show you the Shuttleworth Collection of historic planes and other vehicles which are housed in the hangars. But I'm going to do no such thing. Instead we'll have a quick look at something that lurks behind the hangars.



In the 1820s the 3rd Baron Ongley, who owned the Old Warden estate, decided to have a garden in the fashionable "Swiss" style. This was the age of the Grand Tours of Europe which were undertaken by the wealthy, who came back with all sorts of new ideas for transforming their homes and gardens.



It's not known whether the young Lord Ongley ever went on such a tour. In fact, it's tempting to suggest that he didn't, as some parts of this Swiss Garden look more Chinese.... or Greek.... or Indian! But that didn't really matter at the time, it was more a work of fantasy than strict factual accuracy.



Above, for example, is Ongley's idea of a Swiss Cottage, sitting on top of its Alpine height - a small man-made hillock. It was used as a summer-house where the family could have tea, there being a cleverly constructed room beneath the main room where servants could prepare the picnic. When you get up close you find it has this door....



What do you call that? Swiss canton or Cantonese? Well, Ongley didn't care and neither, I suppose, do the many couples who get married in these picturesque surroundings each year.



One of my favourite features is the subterranean passage that leads to the fernery. It's not a real underground cavern but a cunningly constructed grotto making use of the artificial rock known as Pulhamite, invented by one James Pulham and said to have been realistic enough to have fooled some geologists!



In time it is hoped that the fernery will contain a nationally important collection; it already looks impressive to my eye.



Out in the garden I made the acquaintance of this regal figure who, even if he is not the sole owner of this wonderland, clearly considers himself to be a cut above the Canada Geese and Coots who inhabit some of the ponds.



There's a slightly Chinese flavour to the little bridge over the stream...



….and, above, all pretence is abandoned with what is known as the Indian Kiosk. Although the garden has had a few tweaks and adjustments since its conception it's still considered to be the most complete example of a Regency-style garden and six of the buildings within it are listed for preservation.



There's also a Woodland Walk which leads down to the shores of the boating lake. Along the way some wooden sculptures have been added recently which fit in well with the scheme of the older garden.



(I haven't forgotten the Shuttleworth Collection; we'll get back to the old aeroplanes in the next post).


Take care.


18 comments:

  1. That is an interesting garden but as you say it has little resemblance to anything Swiss.

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  2. I visited the Swiss Garden many, many moons ago whilst I lived in Hitchin. It looks as if it is maintained far better now than it was then. I also used to enjoy strolling through Old Warden itself to view the wealth of interesting architectural style buildings.

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    1. Yes, it underwent one round of refurbishment in the 1980s, I believe, and then another much more recently as the result of a Heritage Lottery grant. By the look of it it's still having some minor work carried out.

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  3. Hi John - absolutely delightful ... thanks for sharing this - I'd never have known ... cheers Hilary

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  4. It is quite amazing how peacocks have become almost an obligatory ornamentation in parks and gardens around the world.

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  5. A curious but beautiful place.

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  6. I've never met a peacock, nor peahen actually. I know they have a history of being in big gardens...perhaps I should travel further and see if I can find one. Lovely photos, and I think exotic architecture even if misnamed.

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  7. The door looks like it leads to mysterious secret world!

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  8. What a beautiful place. The door is quite interesting, maybe Sandi is right, it leads to a secret world. :)

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  9. It looks an interesting garden to wander around, love the passage leading to the fernery:)

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  10. A lovely spot to wander around. It's all looking so neat and well-kept.

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  11. A peaceful place to wander about....

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  12. Oh my gosh what a delightfully quirky garden John, how much fun it would have been to have tea in the summer-house and the fernery is too gorgeous 💚

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  13. I'd love to have a stroll around that garden.

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  14. Very neat place! I like the different styles and the fernery sounds so exotic! lol

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  15. That door -- I call it eclectic -- is wonderful. Love it.

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  16. well that's a very interesting garden, such a varied collection.

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