Introduction
A plan of ‘Ashdown Place’ garden is shown in Walter Godfrey’s ‘Gardens in the Making’. The formal garden was based on a cruciform-shaped plan, leading south-east from the house, with a series of lawns, a rose garden and an upper terrace. When the property was split into individual units, the garden was divided into long sections running north-west to south-east. Nothing remains of the original rose garden and there is now a sunken pool and terrace near the house where the lawn once existed.
When the property was split into individual units, the garden was divided into long sections running north-west to south-east. Nothing remains of the original rose garden and there is now a sunken pool and terrace near the house where the lawn once existed. The bowling alley still remains.
- History
‘Ashdown Place' was known previously as ‘Ashdown Cottages'. The 1842 Tithe map of the site shows two small cottages, pastures, arable land, orchard and meadows, all farmed by the Underwood family.
By the time of the 1881 Census, Henry Stack, barrister, and his family were the occupants. By 1900 it was owned and lived in briefly by D.W. Freshfield whilst building his new house ‘Pressridge' (now ‘Wych Cross Place'). His architect son-in-law, E. Fisher, made alterations to the property and in 1901 the house was re-named ‘Ashdown Place'.
Between 1911 and 1922, it appears to have been let to Col. The Hon. H.A. Lawrence. In 1924, D.W. Freshfield sold ‘Ashdown Place' to Fitzroy Chapman for £11,000. Fitzroy Chapman, a director of a chemical manufacturer, extended the house over the next few years and instructed Walter Godfrey to lay out the garden. Five gardeners were employed. Fitzroy Chapman was a keen bowls player and had a bowling alley lawn designed within the garden. This alley was also used by his local club. He died in 1953 and the property was sold to an Ada Gibbon, who subsequently divided the house into eight separate units with a bungalow built into the far south-east of the garden.
Period
- 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
- Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
- Associated People
- Features & Designations
Features
- Bowling Green
- Pool
- Description: Sunken pool.
- Terrace
- Gardens
- Rose Garden
- Lawn
- House
- Key Information
Type
Garden
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Domestic / Residential
Period
20th Century (1901 to 1932)
Survival
Extant
Open to the public
Yes
Civil Parish
Forest Row
- References
References
- Godfrey, W.H. {Gardens in the Making} (London: Batsford, 1914) Gardens in the Making
Contributors
H.C. May
Sussex Gardens Trust