51°18′04″N 0°55′55″W / 51.301°N 0.932°W / 51.301; -0.932

West Green House

West Green House is an 18th-century country house and garden at West Green in Hartley Wintney in the English county of Hampshire. The house is listed Grade II*.[1] It is known for its gardens and for its summer season of opera.

History

The house was built in the early 18th century,[2] by General Henry Hawley, who led the cavalry charge at the Battle of Culloden.[3]

At the beginning of the 20th century the Playfair family employed the architect Robert Weir Schulz to remodel the north front of the house and to design new gardens.[4] After the Playfairs left West Green House five years later, the new owner, Evelyn, Duchess of Wellington continued to improve the gardens.[4] The Duchess and her friend Yvonne Fitzroy occupied the house and garden for many years. Victor Sassoon bought the house and allowed the Duchess and her friend to live in house until the Duchess's death in 1939 and Fitzroy's death in 1971.[4]

The National Trust has owned the house since 1971, after being left the property by Victor Sassoon in 1957. Alistair McAlpine acquired the lease in 1976 and added monuments designed by the classical architect Quinlan Terry.[5]

The house was damaged by an IRA bomb attack in 1990.[6] McAlpine had left the house three weeks previously, at the expiration of his lease.[6]

Marylyn Abbott bought the lease from the National Trust in 1993.[7] She had previously developed her well-known Kennerton Green garden in Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia.[8] The gardens at West Green house now extends beyond the 18th century walls to beyond a lake created in 1997 which is surrounded by a series of perimeter gardens, one a fountain “ Paradise Garden”, another a 190 meter serpentine of iris crossed by five wisteria clad bridges. With six walled gardens, each individually planted from checkerboard topiary, to tropical plants in summer, and oriental plants around two dragons, it is a garden known for its theatricality. Alongside the garden, there is a new gift-shop and cafe for visitors.

Opera

Marylyn Abbott is the former marketing and tourism manager of Sydney Opera House[7] and instituted an opera season at West Green House which is held annually in July and August.[9] Today the opera is performed from a stage cantilevered from the lake's island with the audience seated in covered pavilions lake side.[10]

In 2012, West Green House hosted a production by the Garsington Opera Emerging Artists programme.[11]

Events and weddings

The National Trust venue has become a popular setting for weddings and events. The greenhouse is a unique venue for private and corporate events. Catering for up to 40 people can be arranged in-house but larger parties must use caterers from their recommended supplier list, such as Peapod & Co.

Sustainability

West Green House Gardens actively engages with the local community and visitors, promoting sustainable gardening practices and environmental stewardship. The garden hosts workshops, seminars, and educational programs to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability in horticulture. By inspiring individuals and other gardens to adopt eco-friendly practices, West Green House Gardens extends its positive impact beyond its physical borders.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "WEST GREEN HOUSE, Hartley Wintney - 1242807 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "West Green House (1242807)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Patrick Keiller (1999). Robinson in Space: And a Conversation With Patrick Wright. Reaktion Books. pp. 11–. ISBN 978-1-86189-028-3. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "English gardens - West Green Houses". Sisley Garden Tours. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Patrick Taylor (1 May 2008). Gardens of Britain and Ireland. Dorling Kindersley. pp. 108–. ISBN 978-1-4053-2854-8. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 "IRA Claims Blame in Wave of Blasts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 Kirwan-Taylor, Helen (1 July 2011). "Music Inhabits Summer Gardens". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Pavord, Anna (4 December 1999). "Country & garden: The colour of two continents". The Independent. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Kimberley, Nick (19 May 2010). "Best garden operas in London". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  10. ↑ Raymond, Francine (19 July 2011). "The perfect setting for outdoor opera". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  11. ↑ White, Michael (1 August 2012). "A country-house academy for opera singers". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

Sources

  • Headley, Gwyn; Wim Meulenkamp (1986), Follies: A National Trust Guide London: Jonathan Cape ISBN 978-0-22402-105-0
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