Kedleston Hall Garden

During the mid 18th century gardening in England enjoyed a revolution as formal geometric designs featuring parterres, terraces and fountains were replaced with naturalistic shrubberies, sweeping lawns and meadows. Kedleston joined the revolution in 1758 when the Scottish architect Robert Adam was commissioned to redesign the formal garden at Kedleston Hall. The result was a pleasure ground of trees and shrubs that linked seamlessly with the surrounding park by means of the ha ha - a sunken wall which was invisible from a distance but effectively kept livestock out of the garden. Adam created a rolling naturalised parkland to complement the new Hall, including features such as a fine 3-arched bridge, a fishing pavilion, a temple and a series of lakes and cascades. He also designed the Long Walk, a winding three mile circuit with views of the rear of the Hall and across the parkland. In 1839, Loudon remarked that 'there is very little about Kedleston that we could wish to add to, or alter.' In the 1920s a new formal garden was created to the designs of Lutyens and Jekyll. Since The National Trust took over in 1987, many 20th century features have been removed to restore the garden to its 18th century design and restore the Long Walk. The park and pleasure ground survive as a rare example of Robert Adam's work in garden design, with four walks for visitors to enjoy in the 800 acre park.