In 1893, Henry Oakley, a keen horticulturist and very wealthy young bachelor, purchased the ancient Dewstow Estate of Caerwent in Monmouthshire. He began the task of creating a truly ambitious, unique garden, and decided to commission the very eminent London landscapers, Pulman & Sons. The garden project took 25years to complete.
Whilst there are examples of Pulham's work in several stately homes up and down the country, the Dewstow garden was unique in both its scale and subterranean focus.
I can't imagine a lady creating a garden with an ambience quite like this. There are elements in this garden that are palpably masculine. Could it be that Henry Oakley was still a young boy at heart when he began creating his garden? 
Let the journey begin - do we venture along one of several different pathways, go up the steps, or through the tunnel? It is all beginning to feel as if we are at the start of an Indiana Jones adventure!
We didn't come across anyone else as we explored the grottos and fortunately only encountered fish happily swimming around in several of the pools.
Much to our surprise we eventually emerged from beneath the ground at the nearside of the house.......... 
...........only to find yet more steps leading down to another series of gardens on the far side of the property.
This route led out into a jungle garden, and then surprisingly a Parterre garden, streams crossed by stepping stones and bridges, small lakes, and ponds filled with waterlilies, fountains, and waterfalls. It took us well over an hour to explore this part of the garden.
At this stage I am ending the garden exploration as there is a very particular history surrounding this garden.
When Henry Oakley died in 1940 he left the entire estate to his illegitimate son. The son, however, had no interest whatsoever in the garden, and as 1940 was a time of great austerity, due to the war, he had the entire garden bulldozed over and used the land for agriculture. Food was far more important than gardens. The garden remained hidden and lost for over 50 years until the property was purchased in 1999. The new owners had no idea about the hidden garden apart from rumours heard within the district. Pullman's plans and information about the garden had been completely lost. However, as they began to excavate the garden steps and walls began to appear and the lost garden gradually began to reveal its face. The task of finding the hidden garden has taken the owners over 6 years to reach fruition, it has been a huge undertaking, and very similar to carrying out an archaeological dig.
What an amazing story and such a unique vision!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a different take on a garden.
DeleteDearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteSpectacular photos of an incredible garden!
One can barely imagine that all that splendor got filled in by thousands of tons of dirt. By itself a mammoth task, only for acquiring 10 acres of farm land.
So glad that the new owner did discover some steps and a blocked up entrance. Excavating all that, to uncover the subterranean tunnels and grottoes was of course a lot more laborious than the filling in with dirt. Found this video showing the beginning in 2000 https://youtu.be/xCJ2dV5kfDo
Amazing how the plants have grown, almost hiding this 50 year period of being buried and hidden!
By the way it is 'Dewstow' and not Dewstone... Sounds almost Russian.
Glad you enjoyed this garden walk and adventure and shared it with us.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - it was just 10 acres of the garden that were turned into agricultural land but it was also part of the wider Dewstow agricultural estate. During the war every scrap of land was being utilised to grow cereals, potatoes, cabbage etc. Ships travelling across the Atlantic from our Canadian and American allies delivering basic commodities were being sunk by U-boats in large numbers.
DeleteThe name has been changed - grateful thanks.
You are quite welcome!
DeleteQuelle aventure! Indiana Jones is a great comparison! I'm just pleased there were no snakes involved. I cannot even imagine the work, time and money required first to obliterate all the twists and turns and second to reverse it and find the "secret garden". This is definitely a historic garden I will now have on my list for places to visit when I next get to England! Merci for the adventure this morning, Rosemary! You never disappoint!
ReplyDeleteI am pleased that you enjoyed seeing the post Mary - it was very enterprising of the current owners to spend so much time and money re-establishing Henry Oakley's historic and very unusual garden.
DeleteWhat an inspired garden. It pains me when a life's work is neglected after the creative force dies. I understand it is often a burden but, as time has shown, there are people willing to take it on.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder what will happen to our own garden one day.
DeleteHello Rosemary, This is certainly my type of garden--with a bit of mystery. Such an odd conceit to begin with, and even more remarkable that the new owners rediscovered the garden and restored Oakley's unique vision.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - I had thought that this garden could be one that you might enjoy and appreciate. The re-discovery was indeed quite remarkable.
DeleteOh yes, indeed! The gardens are rich in themselves, but to have been rediscovered from the farming soil must have taken lots of work, and some of it very carefully done! I love your first photo with the beautiful flowers against the columns!
ReplyDeleteThe owners must have had a great deal of satisfaction once their excavations were completed and replanted again.
DeleteWhat a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteThat's interesting history Rosemary. It's pleasing to read that the lost garden was somehow found.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful and appeals to me in some of the areas of it but there is certainly a lack of blooms more inclined to be planted by a female or male who likes flowers.
Flowers were certainly in short supply in the grottos, but the outside borders were full of flowers.
DeleteWhat a brilliant place. Water and caves on a hot day. Just as well some of it was underground given its history so it could be rescued later. Reminiscent of several famous sunken Italian gardens deliberately designed as a rite of passage into the underworld- filled with Masonic lore and all that... popular in the late 1800s- early 1900s as well. That is my kind of garden. I'd be very happy there.
ReplyDeleteIt was an adventurous garden, one that had interest around every corner which took you by surprise. .
DeleteI wonder if you been to the Garden of Bomarzo in Lazio, Italy - a 16th century garden also known as the Parco dei Mostri - The Park of Monsters. I am sure that you would love it.
How absolutely fascinating Rosemary. It does look rather masculine, and also very adventurous with the waterfalls and grottos. How fortunate the new owners realised what was there and were able to bring it back to life. On our recent garden tour to the Blue Mountains we saw two gardens which featured similar grottos, tunnels and water features, which impressed us very much!
ReplyDeleteI have visited several gardens with grottos previously but never one with such an extensive underground network. I don't even know now whether or not we visit every part of the network as there were so many different choices to make as we walked through.
DeleteWhat a truly amazing place with so much to enjoy. I have a feeling I saw a programme about its restoration some years ago. Good that it has been brought back to its former glory. B x
ReplyDeleteI suspect that it could well have been on the TV. I did know about the garden, but I don't recall how, so perhaps I saw it too.
DeleteThis is obviously a spectacular place to visit, with hidden surprises around every corner. I am not sure that the emphasis on masculinity is warranted or that it really matters. Conceived and designed by man or woman, it is still sheer delight.
ReplyDeleteIt is a garden filled with surprises. It makes for an interesting and great day out, and definitely takes you away from the cares of the world.
Delete.......and I thought my garden was a work in progress!!!! Going to have Bob sit down later and watch the video - thanks Mariette. Thanks Rosemary for sharing your interesting visit to a beautiful place. It may have never been discovered which would have been sad - and seeing how much work was required a second time, was amazing! There are so many stunning features, and to think they could have been hidden for ever!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
"Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow.......lol!!!!!
Mary, Mary quite contrary - your garden grows absolutely beautifully.
DeleteIt was good popping over to Wales to visit this garden, it gave us both a great day out. So much so that we are crossing the Severn Bridge again this weekend, weather permitting, to see another garden. It is in the Wye Valley and we intend to stop for our picnic on the way besides romantic Tintern Abbey.
What an unusual and interesting garden to visit. Oakley certainly had unique ideas for his time.
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting day out.
DeleteA bit like Tim Smitt at Heligan.
ReplyDeleteYes and also the restoration of the early Elizabethan garden at Aberglasney.
DeleteSuch lovely photographs!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit and kind comment.
DeleteDear Rosemary - What a fantastic garden with such an interesting history. I’m always interested in how the generational owners left the legacy and understand the surprise when the latest owner found the hidden garden. You were so lucky for almost monopolizing the garden, exploring with unexpected surprises like visiting one planet to another. At this time, greenery sparkles in the sun. Fern is one of the most vibrant, beautiful plants together with moss in my country. Have a nice week!
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - I love your sentence exploring with unexpected surprises like visiting one planet to another - it beautifully sums it up how it felt.
DeleteLovely garden and a lovely, interesting history too....
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures as always!
Love from Titti
Thank you Titti - I am pleased that you enjoyed seeing this interesting garden. I have just visited another one, very different, but very lovely.
Delete