The Gardens

Traditional 18th century ornamental Walled Gardens Yew Hedges, Trees, Plants and Ornaments from the 18th and 19th century

The Walled Garden

Although there would have been a small garden at Raby during the Middle Ages to provide the herbs and plants needed for medicines, it was not until the mid-18th century that a formal garden was established, designed by Thomas Wright.

The walls of locally hand-made bricks were constructed with flues which, when heated, enabled sub-tropical fruits such as apricots to be grown on the South Terrace. Of these, only the White Ischia Fig, brought to Raby in 1786 by William Harry, Lord Barnard, later 3rd Earl of Darlington, still survives in its specially built house, fruiting annually.

Original Plantations

The Gardens have been considerably altered during this century, particularly since 1980, but many of the original features remain. In particular, there are the two fine old yew hedges, and the ornamental pond, originally constructed to provide water for the Kitchen Garden.

Also within this area are the new conservatory whose front replicates the 19th century original, rose gardens; formal lawns; and the informal heather and conifer garden.

The East Garden contains the main herbaceous border, designed by the Dowager Lady Barnard, with species of trees within the lawn, such as the Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipafera) and the Wedding Day Rose (Rosa syn Wedding Day) whose petals transforms through three colour changes.

Garden Ornamental Features

The West Garden displays shrub borders, garden nurseries and the remaining Kitchen Garden. Also in this part of the Garden is the Gothic cottage orné designed by James Paine.

In the centre of the South Terrace is a fine wrought iron gate, bearing the monogram of Christopher, the 1st Lord Barnard. Designed by James Gibb it was made originally in the early 18th century for Shipbourne Church, near the family seat of Fairlawn in Kent, and when the Church underwent repairs in the late 19th century, the then owner of Fairlawn, Mr Cazalet, made a gift of them to the 9th Lord Barnard, who erected them here in 1894. A smaller gate in the wall of the East Garden was erected by the Dowager Lady Barnard in 1937.