Hestercombe

by Don Hyatt

The Gardens at Hestercombe

The gardens at the Hestercombe mansion combine both informal landscape vistas as well as formal gardens accented with numerous water features. Now in the process of being restored, the original garden was designed by Coplestone Warre Bamfylde between 1750 and 1786, and covers approximately 35 acres. A more formal Edwardian-style garden was designed as a collaborative effort between Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll between 1904 and 1906.

Leaving in the early morning from our lodging at the Homewood Park Hotel near the town of Bath, we traveled southwest to Tauton to see Hestercombe, our first visit in a rather long day of garden tours. It was a chilly day, approiximately 45 degrees that morning with a strong wind out of the northwest. We were not due back to the hotel until 10:00 PM that evening. Little did I know that I would be taking second morning "bath" at Hestercombe.

Our tour guide was a delightful lady who gave us an expert tour of the gardens punctuated with clever stories and witty comments. I particularly enjoyed her stories of their disadvantaged swans, Eggbert and Cressida, named by a local teenager who was fond of egg and cress sandwiches. She led us on a rather long walk past the recently restored "Great Cascade" waterfall, through a garden in the style of 18th century plantsman William Robinson whose concept was to let plants be themselves, to finally the more formal gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens. It was in the Edwardian Garden that I would take my bath.

At the start of our walk, we had seen the "Daisy Steps" above the main house at Hestercombe. The tall stone columns beautifully framed the view of the mansion and gardens below, and the round terrace area had a large round stone in the center to repeat the circular design. We would see this pattern repeated in other parts of the garden. Entering through a gate, we viewed a lovely walled herb garden that adjoined the Orangery, a protective hot house for raising citrus fruits. Beyond the Orangery was the formal Edwardian Garden planted with numerous perennials. The stone walls were adorned with clematis and wisteria vines in full bloom.

As I overlooked the Edwardian garden, I noticed a repeat design seen at the Daisy Steps, this time appreciating the daisy-like flowers in full bloom between the steps. I decided to ascend to the top of the stairs to get a better view. Snapping pictures while continuing to look trough my viewfinder, I kept stepping backwards trying to compose the perfect view when suddenly my left foot no longer had any footing. I had just found a round reflecting pool, the center feature of this terrace, and I subsequently fell backwards into the cold, cold water. Although only about 3 feet deep, it was ample to get me completely soaked up to my neck, but I did hold my camera above water.

How kind the people at Hestercombe were, as well as all of my traveling companions! Knowing that it would be a long, cold day to spend in wet clothes, everyone was concerned that I would catch pneumonia, and I am very grateful for the kindness of so many people. One of the members of our tour group, Cam Williams, bought me a dry, souvenir shirt. Hestercombe's tour guide, Mrs. Sharpley, found me a pair of dry blue jeans donated by one of their gardeners. She even found me an old windbreaker coat. The cooks at the restaurant were able to dry my sweater on top of their dish washer. Because of the kindness of others I was once again in dry clothes, and I didn't even come down with pneumonia. In fact, I was the only one on the trip who didn't catch a cold. I guess the germs considered me a health risk.

Vistas of the Garden



Daisy Steps from
Above the House


Great Cascade Waterfall


Walled Herb Garden


The Orangery


The Edwardian Garden:   Site of the Dunking



Wisteria at Edge
of a Lower Terrace


Beautiful Steps
Adorned in Flowers


Edwardian Garden as Viewed
From the Top of the Steps
This was the last picture before my swimming incident.


My Bath Tub
The Sinister Reflecting Pool
While trying to snap another picture, I fell backwards into this garden feature.

The Public Bath:   A Wet School Teacher



Soaked Up to My Neck
And a Bit Chilly
Temperature 50 Degrees
With 40 MPH Wind


Finally Heeding the WARNING:
THESE GARDENS HAVE DEEP
PONDS. ALL CHILDREN MUST 
BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
Suggested Addendum:
ALL RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHERS MUST
BE ACCOMPANIED BY ALERT CHILDREN.