The Old Rectory: introduction

The Old Rectory: Introduction

In a slight contrast to Hillside, the history of this particular project demanded a little more formality. Yet, through applying the same principles and methodology, the result is both sensitive to the site's past and the landscape that surrounds it.

How it began

• Positioned on the edge of the village of Windrush in the Cotswolds, the garden is a perfect acre and the house, which is an old rectory, sits at the very centre.
• My clients approached me about sixteen years ago just to look at the planting possibilities but, after visiting the site, I felt the hard landscaping and arrangement of the garden needed to be addressed first.
• The site's engagement with its own history, as well as its relationship to the natural elements within it, needed to be teased out in order to generate a strong and distinctive atmosphere.

The site

• A Georgian rectory, it sits squarely in the middle of this site. Its positioning allowed us to explore the idea of each side of the garden offering a different experience, and each section having a slightly different mood and purpose.
• I wanted the garden to encourage visitors on a journey through it's different spaces, with each new space opening up as you travel around the building, eventually leading to a west-facing terrace that offers a quiet place to take in the evening light.
• Installing two walls running south, away from the south-facing facade of the house, was a key move in the design of the garden. They introduce a sense of formality and separation that enhances the mood change.
• Using the two main facades of the house to guide the formal aspects of the garden design was key to making the journey and atmosphere feel authentic. The different elements of water within the site were also a huge guiding factor in the design.

Finding the sense of place

As with every project, I began by tuning into and understanding the garden's sense of place. Key factors of note were:

• The water that runs alongside the site
• Dry-stone walls and limestone
• Old, established trees
• Views out of the garden

Acknowledging the previous garden

In addition to engaging with the garden's sense of place, when a site is this historically rich, it's also key to uphold the character of its past. The materials used can help your design speak to the origins of the site.

• All of the new walls were made using the same technique and material used for the original ones.
• We used local limestone on the ground to create a simple bone structure. Oak was another key material that we've used in many forms across the garden.

Limiting the number of different elements enables a clarity of identity that underpins everything. Try to choose three, to avoid them competing with each other.

Discover More

If your own site lies on historically rich ground, it could be helpful to find out more about its past.

Places you can look:

• The local archive for the area you live
• Books about the history of the landscape
• Find My Past is a great website for finding out about the history of your home.