Stourton Castle (also known as Stewpony, Kinver)

The present garden, created following considerable alterations to the house by Sir Robert Smirke in 1831 and 1832, consists of terraces on three sides. Those on the south side are 9m below the house, and contain a small box and gravel parterre on the upper terrace, replicating a larger and more intricate version shown in an early-20th-century photograph.

An iron fountain and basin on the lower level appear to have been placed there in order to provide a viewpoint from windows in the castle, but not as part of the original design, as on the ground the feature appears awkwardly placed.

The two original, steep terraces have evidently slipped during one of the periods of neglect, and have been made safe by shoring them up into four narrow paths. This has been accomplished by redistributing the original stone from the walls, and consolidating it with rather crude brickwork. Old photographs show that the stone retaining wall of the lower terrace had extended to the west front, where it was planted up as a rockwork feature. There may also have been planting on the east side, but no evidence is visible.

A circular pond has been inserted into the lawn, adjacent to ther weir in the river. The pond is approximately 13 metres in diameter, with a concrete cill, but is now empty and surrounded by bamboo and rhodedendrons. The position and planting suggest that this probably took place towards the end of the 19th century. It forms a focal point of any view from the rooms on this side of the house.