Introduction
The early-17th-century house was enlarged by Admiral Vernon in the mid-18th century. After World War 2 and in the same ownership, the garden has been restored and continually developed with interesting, individual small gardens.
Initially, a rose garden was planted on the flat ground to the north of the house, with a sundial in the centre, later replaced by a lily pond and fountain. Latterly, however, persistent damage by deer has led to most roses being removed with new planting.
On the south side, tender climbers were under-planted with bella donna lilies. Beyond the north lawn, a copse which was once a ‘jungle', was planted with forsythia, viburnum and other shrubs. Against advice, Lady Newton created a camelia and rhododendron garden which did reasonably well.
Over the years, various small gardens have been developed such as a hot garden of reds/oranges and a cool one of whites. After 1992 and the death of Lord Newton, Lady Newton re-married and created a blue garden then a red and pink one, all divided by hedges of lonicera. Other additions have been a ‘phlox' garden, a golden garden and a Mediterranean garden in a dry part of the kitchen garden. She also replaced a large rhubarb patch which had been there since 1949 with penstemons.
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
Owners
Lord and Lady Newton
- History
The main building was probably built as a small manor house in red brick. Early parts date from the first half of 17th century. The original entrance porch to the north and a few small paned windows on the north-facing side of the house still exist.
The name of the house was changed to Vernon Hill House in the mid-18th century when it was owned by Admiral Vernon. He had bought it after his success in the battle of Porto Bello in the Caribbean. Admiral Vernon changed the exterior to make it more impressive, changing the entrance from north to south to allow a carriage sweep. He had sash windows added to south-facing rooms and built a Georgian entrance porch with pillars and also erected the ballustrading. A fine staircase and a cornice in the drawing room were also installed.
In the very early 19th century the house was used as a prison for French officers. In the mid-19th-century the house was lived in by Sir Arthur Helps, who added an east wing consisting of a large turret room and several smaller ones. About this time the red brick was covered with stucco. In 1867 the house was sold with ‘1300 acres consisting of gardens, pleasure grounds, shrubberies as well as several well-arranged farms and homesteads, productive water-meadows, cottages, fishing streams and capital shooting'. In 1919 the property was sold again with an acreage reduced to 218 but it still included two farms. In 1949 the house, now with only 36 acres (14.6 ha) was bought by Peter Leigh, who on the death of his father in 1960 became Lord Newton.
- Features & Designations
Designations
The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building
- Reference: Vernon Hill House
- Grade: II
Features
- Rose Garden
- Description: Initially, a rose garden was planted on the flat ground to the north of the house, with a sundial in the centre, later replaced by a lily pond and fountain. Latterly, however, persistent damage by deer has led to most roses being removed with new planting.
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- Ornamental Fountain
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- Pond
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- Hedge
- Description: The small gardens are divided by hedges of lonicera.
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- Manor House (featured building)
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- Fountain
- Tree Feature
- Description: Beyond the north lawn, a copse which was once a `jungle?, was planted with forsythia, viburnum and other shrubs.
- Planting
- Description: Over the years, various small gardens have been developed such as a hot garden of reds/oranges and a cool one of whites. There is also a blue garden then a red and pink one, all divided by hedges of lonicera. Other additions have been a `phlox? garden, a golden garden and a Mediterranean garden in a dry part of the kitchen garden.
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- Key Information
Type
Garden
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Domestic / Residential
Survival
Extant
Hectares
2.5
Open to the public
Yes
Civil Parish
Bishops Waltham