With over 9,000 records of parks and gardens on our database, it is no surprise to find several with relevant WWI and wartime histories.
Here is a selection of interesting records already on the database. We also feature a memorial landscape each week in our Latest News.
To see a list of all of the memorial landscapes featured so far, click here. We look forward to receiving additional research contributions from volunteers to expand our database on this subject.
Abbots Ripton Hall
During the First World War the Hall was used as a hospital.
Battersea Park
During the First World War allotments were laid out in the park, an anti-aircraft station was set up on the croquet field, and a clothing depot on one of the cricket fields. The gravel carriage drives were damaged by heavy vehicles and after the war all the drives and paths were tarmacked.
Chelwood Beacon
The estate passed to the 6th Earl Donoughmore who was at Verdun in World War 1. He brought back chestnuts back from Verdun, which he planted at Chelwood.
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Oakfield, Upton-by-Chester
During 1914 to 1918: WW1 Wartime hospital and refugee camp there are some great pictures of troops in the grounds of the house.
Rowntree Park
York's first municipal park laid out in 1919-21 following design proposals by Frederick Rowntree, and presented to the City of York by Messrs Rowntree & Co as a memorial to the Cocoa Works staff who fell and suffered during the First World War.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
During WW1 the house at Heligan was taken over by the War Department in 1916, it was used as an convalescence home for the officers. Many of the staff who tended the original magnificent gardens at Heligan were called up to fight in the 1st World War. Of the 22 that went only 6 returned to their original jobs.
Victoria Park in Leicester
Has a WW1 war memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and also features a peace garden in front of it.