Introduction
Cerney House is approached by a drive through the garden to the front of house developed below the ha-ha in late 20th century. The Victorian walled garden to the rear of house is divided into sections part decorative with parterre and part for vegetables. There is a wooded valley with woodland walks and orchard and a new gazebo to the west of the walled garden with herb garden in front.
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
Telephone
01285 831300Website
https://www.cerneygardens.comAccess contact details
www.cerneygardens.com gardens only See website for times
- History
Sir Thomas Rich became lessee of the manors formerly belonging to the Earls of Stafford and acquired a long lease on two farms in Woodmancote tithing called Green’s and Viner’s, which later formed the basis for the Cerney House estate. Sir Thomas granted the lease of the farms to his son William who predeceased him in 1639. At Sir Thomas’s death in 1647 the estate passed to his grandson, Thomas Rich (d 1705). The family had a good house and estate in 1710 according to Atkyns. In 1719 the owner was Edward Rich, son of the younger Thomas, who died in 1721 with financial difficulties and the estate passed to the Revd Edward Pickering Rich after whose death in 1761 it was bought by Thomas Tyndale.
A small block on the north side of Cerney House that has the remains of two 17th century windows, survives from the Rich family’s house, as do possibly some of the thick internal walls. The main block dates from rebuilding soon after 1761 by Thomas Tyndale. Further alterations were made about 1800 using part of drawing made by James Burton of London, when a third storey was possibly removed. The small landscaped park around the house was probably the work of Thomas Tyndale who secured the closure of a road that passed close to the house in 1780.
The estate passed to the Croome family in 1814 when it was said to have a handsome seat surrounded by a park and pleasure grounds comprising of nearly 100 acres. By 1837 the estate comprised of 475 acres. In 1855 William’s son, William Fielder Croome, inherited the house. In 1886 it passed to William’s nephew, Thomas Lancelot Croome. In 1895 William Iveson Croome inherited from his father.
F C Eden, who also made alterations to the Old Rectory, built a circular lodge at the end of the drive in 1914 for W I Croome. The property has changed hands many times since 1930 and the estate broken up with land and the Lodge sold off. The present owners, who purchased the property in 1983, have converted the stables and garages into a house and they have been restoring and developing the gardens.
Period
- 18th Century (1701 to 1800)
- Late 18th Century (1767 to 1800)
- Associated People
- Features & Designations
Designations
NCCPG National Plant Collection
- Reference: Tradescantia
Style
Informal
Features
- Bothy
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- Ha-ha
- Greenhouse
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- Gazebo
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- Ruin
- Description: chapel
- Parterre
- Country House (featured building)
- Description: The present house is based on what was largely rebuilt in or shortly after 1761.
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- Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Icehouse
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- Gate Lodge
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- Gate Piers
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- Key Information
Type
Garden
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Domestic / Residential
Period
18th Century (1701 to 1800)
Survival
Extant
Hectares
13
Open to the public
Yes
Civil Parish
North Cerney
- References
References
- pp 322 - 4 The Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire
- pp 325 - 7 A New History of Gloucestershire
- pp 97 -8 Delineations of Gloucestershire; being views of the principal seats of nobility & gentry
- 3rd Edition pp 506 - 7 The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds
- Volume I pp 306 - 7 A History of the County of Gloucester, compressed down to the year 1803
- September 1993 Cotswold Life
- May 1994 pp 86-7 The Field
Contributors
Gloucestershire Gardens & Landscape Trust
Gay Chamberlayne