witley court conservation management plan

8/11/2019 Witley Court Conservation Management Plan

1/71


2/71


3/71


4/71


5/71


6/71


7/71


8/71


9/71


10/71


11/71


12/71


13/71


14/71


15/71


16/71


17/71


18/71

^

~

Witley Court

C O N S ER V A TIO N P L AN

Part

1: Significance

2. Archaeological research and project management costs

The

North

Park

North

Parterre

restoration project

September

1996)

Afterdiscussions withHLFit was agreed thatamanagement plan and revised

business

plan

be submitted toHLF during September 1996. The proposals

included: the repair of the North Park

landscape;

the construction ofvisitor

facilities at PoolHouse; the construction of a carparkand access road obviating

the

need

tousethe

principal carriage

drive ; and the

repair

oftheParterres. A

grant

of

L830k was awarded for the repair

of

the North

Park and

North Parterre

HLF27/11/96 toward a total

project

cost ofL1.47m, inclusive ofvisitor

facilities.

The

HLF agreed

that theproject

should

be undertaken in two

phases,

commencing

with

the North Park

and

provision of

visitor

facilities,

followed

by

restoration of the parterres.

Work commenced on North Park and the North Parterre in January 1998andwas

completed inMay 1999. This

included:

Visitorreceptionkiosk carpark in North

Parterre in

9 9

New visitor reception car park in North

Park

June 9 99

North Park:

construction

of the new

site access

road

car park and visitor

facilities; tree surgery, scrub

clearance and planting to

th e

Wilderness woodlands

and ornamental walks; path

laying, fencing, seating

footbridge construction.

North Parterre: th e

removal

of

existing car

park and visitor facilities

an d

the restoration of th e

North

Parterre;

construction of

the

North

Par ter re balus t rade.

> iiSr-

F/aw across Front

Poo l

towards the house in

99

E N G LI S H H E R IT A G E

Same view after clearance restoration in

June 99 9

3 6

T he H ou se

Church:

Outline Constructional

History

he o use

Although a ruin, Witley Court is important. It is precisely due to its ruined state

that it has been possible to investigate the complex development of this

substantial country house. Five major constructional phases are clearly visible:

Medieval: represented by an undercroft, probably dating to the early 14th

century. Now hidden in the cellars beneath the hall, the undercroft probably lay

underneath a Solar or bedroom block situated a t o ne end of a central hall. It was

approachedby a spiral stair now blocked)from the Solar above. The shape of

this 14thcenturybuilding is unknown thoughfurtherevidence maybe seen

between the church and the cellars beneath the west range of the mansion where a

page 12


19/71

Witley

Court

ONSERV TION

PLAN

ii

^

rif

i :

ENGLISH HERITAGE

Part : Significance

man made V-shaped ditchcut into the sandstone canbe distinguished andmay

represent a section of the medieval moated manor.

2

y < ?M>

Early to mid 7th century a large brick built half

H shaped pile:

constructedc.1610-1620, by the

Russell family. The service rooms (1) lay in the east

wingwith a separate stableblock beyond(the area

marked 2 opposite showsthe possible site). A late

17th century painting

of

Witley Court from the south

(opposite right) is

the only

known

image of the

building purchased

by Thomas Foley

in

1655

Early

to

mid

8th

century

the

Palladian mansion:

the house was modernised in the Palladian style

fashionable at the time. New pavilions were built to

the north of the house (1 2) attached to the ends of

the long north wings by curving screen walls. The

stables were housed in one of these pavilions - a

common feature

of

such a design. It replaced the

separate stable block to the east

which

was then

demolished. In the late 18th century a new service

complex comprising kitchens, laundry and servants

accommodation were built (3). The full constructional

sequence has still to be established.

Early

9th

century - the

Nash alterations:

two fine

porticoes were built onto the north (1) and south (2)

elevations of the house (designed by John Nash)

between 1810 and 1817. Other major works during

this phase included the demolition of the two

Palladian pavilions (3 4) and the creation of a new

service and stable complex to the west of the house

(5). Further alterations continued - the brickworkof

th e

house was s tuccoed and

the roof l ines

altered

page 13

_


20/71

~

~

Witley Court

CONSERV TION PL N

S

S P

Part

1: Significance

Mid 9th century major

modernisation

by

Samuel Daukes:

commissioned by the

young

William Humble Ward, 1st Earl

of

Dudley, the

architect Samuel Daukes (late 1850s-early 1860s)

enca sed the whole

o f

th e main hou se i n

a th stone

and radically remodelled the interiors. He added a

curved wing (1) which linked the house with a

Pavilion (2) which acted as an antechamber to a new

conservatory (3). In addition the existing service areas

(4) including the stable block, were remodelled. The

result was an Italianate style akin to Thomas Cubitt s

Osborne House,

which

contrasted with the earlier and

rather subtler style achieved by Nash.

.

i**1

From the late 19thcentury onwards there are no major constructional phases at

WitleyCourt and it continued in existence as the main familyhome of the

Dudley s until its acquisition by Herbert Smith in 192 Thereafter, as he

retreated from living in parts of the house and particularly after the fire of 1937,

the building history is one of decline and eventual ruin with mid 20th century

activity relating to the consolidation of the ruined structure of the building.

TheBallroom looking south (Pardoe Collection)

St Michael

and

All ngels

Church

Churchyard

NorthPorticoshowingmarbleflooring

r lights (Pardoe Collection)

ENGLISH

HERIT GE

The parish church

of

St Michael and All Angels stands to the west of the ruins of

the house. Although it is maintained by the parishioners and is not in the care

of

English Heritage, it is part of the architectural complex ofWitley Court and their

history is intertwined. It is best known for the startling grandeur

of

its interior, in

contrast to the ruins standing alongside. Extending an invitation to parishioner

and visitor Pevsner wrote : Enter andyou are transportedintoa different

climate.Here is themostItalian ecclesiastic space in the whole

England.

page 14


21/71

Witley

ourt

C O N S E R V A T I O N

P L A N

1 DrawingRoom

2 DiningR oom

3

4

G re e n S a lon

5 Ante Room

6 Library

7 Saloon(Smoke Room)

7

atttOfMangRoom

1 0 S e rv a n ts S ta irc a se

19

Bedroom

11 Red

Room

20 (top of butchery)

12 Maid s Room 21 Bachelor Wing

13 Top of Head Steward s Room 22 Cupola inglass kitchen roof

14 Topof Servants HaH

15

Office

16 PrincipalStaircase

8 Long (Sculpture) Gal lery 17 Ante4 .ooby(Cloaks )

9 Red Sitting Room 18 Sitting Room

Floor plans the house as itwas before 9 7


Part 1:

Significance u

p ge


22/71

Witley ourt

ONSERV TION PL N

roque interior of

th hur h

NGLISH H RIT G

Part

Significance

The brick built church consecrated in 1735 is attributed to James Gibbs and was

builtby

homas

2nd BaronFoley of Kidderminster to replace its

medieval

predecessor

The

church

is

rectangular

with

shallow

transepts

or

wings

The

entrance is surmounted with a square tower supporting an open arcaded

octagonal

cupola

The porch has a

pediment

andis supported by plain columns

In 1860it was refaced in Bath stone by Samuel Daukes to complement his work

to the house

The fine decorative fittings were executed by some of the most important artisans

of the period. The twelve painted windows were from the chapel at Cannons the

palace of the Duke of Chandos demolished in 1747. Lord Foley bought these

important decorative fittings at auction and re erected them at Witley.

page 16


23/71

Witley

Court

ONSERV T ION

PL N

Part :Significance

3 7

The

Gardens Outline Constructional History

Little is known of the early gardens at Witley Court. The main features that

visitorssee in the grounds of the Court today are the remains of the gardens laid

out in the 1850 s. This dramatic changeto the landscape was again

commissionedby the 1stEarl who employedWilliamAndrewsNesfield 1793-

1881 one of the most influential and eminent gardendesigners of the day, to

create an extensive Italianate garden. It was designed not only to reflect the

grandeurof the house, but also the wealthof one of the richest men in Europe.

The gardens fall into the following distinct areas each related to a facade of the

house and separated from the parkland by a deep ha-ha and formal balustraded

stone retaining wall.

3 1 7 1 North Par ter re o r Forecourt

A formal approach to the main entrance of the Court

comprising a broad, sweeping gravelled forecourt for

carriages, flanked by formal planting beds. Used for

visitor car parking since 1984 this was restored by

English Heritage between April 1998 and May 1999.

TheNorth Parterre car park in 1997

NorthParterrespring 1999, restoredby EH

East Parterre showing

the

bo x

scrollwork

main

bed Florafountain

cl9 S

Bewdley

Museum)

ENGLISH HERIT GE

3 7 2

E a s t Par ter re

Northfrontage Parterrecl92 NationalMonumentsRecord)

An intimate and highly

detai led formal

area

lying directly to the east

of the

Court - th e

centre

I piece consisted ofa

large sculptural fountain

comprising the figureof

p

Flora the Roman

goddess of spring, on a

pedestal surroundedby

four Tritons blowing

conch

shells

page

17

w


24/71

~

Witley

Court

ONSERV TION PL N

Florafountain

South Parterre from house

cl9 (NatMonuments

Record)

Perseus Andromeda

fountain

ENGLISH HERIT GE

Part :

Significance

interspersed

with

grotesque

masks. The

fountain

was

also designed

by

Nesfield

andprobably

carved

by a James Forsyth a Scotwho at thattimehad a

workshop

in Worcester

It is se t

in

a c ir cu la r b as in s o me 2 5 m

in

diameter

The

parterre beds consisted of

intricate

geometrical designs in box all contained

with

stone curbs Th e areas between th e box work scrolls were filled with

coloured gravels

to provide contrast and

colour.

The only

plants

to survive from

the

original parterre planting

scheme are

remnants

ofboxhedging

which

hasnow

grown

to a large size. Excavation has revealed some ofthematerials

known

to

have been used byNesfield - red brick, blueWestmorland slate, cream

Adamantineclinker, DerbyshireWhite Spar, Derbyshire YellowSpar andblack

c oa l d u s t

Excavationof the eastern half of the East parterre exposed details of the design,

confirming thatNesfield s original scrollwork had consisted of a fan-shaped array

of

segments

radiating

from

a central

point.

Thispersisted until theparterre was

abandoned

3 1 7 3 S ou th

rterre

V V

y^ t k: ifklaV :^

At the centre of the South Parterre stands a monumental fountain depicting the

mythological tale

of

Perseus and Andromeda. Architectural features were

important components

of

Nesfield s design, the great main fountain, steps,

terrace retaining walls, the pavilions, the perimeter balustrade, kerbs to the

parterre compartments, statuary and ornamental urns, formed an intricate

assemblage alongside a complex planting scheme. The views of this great

parterre contrasted with the wider outer spaces

of

the surrounding parkland, and

again a contrast with the distant wooded, wilder landscape beyond.

Thefountain wasdesigned byNesfield in 1853 andwas

carved

by James

Forsyth.

Surrounded

by shells and

dolphins

the

centrepiece

which weighs

some

20

tons

is saidtobethe

largest block

of

sculpture

in

Europe.

The

main

jet onthe

Perseus Andromeda fountain rose

some

120feetandwassurrounded by a

high

circle of arched cascades. It is setin anelliptical basin some 55m

long

by

page


25/71

Witley

Court

CONSERVATION PLAN Part 1: Significance

36mwide andhadtwoadditional side fountains depicting amoretti on

dolphins,

known

as

the Nereids.

The Nereids

have been

removed

from

the site an d are

now in private ownership

Sincebeing taken into guardianship in 1972 all the groundswithin the lineof the

balustrade havebeenprevented

from

reverting to scrub by a

regular

mowing

regime

witha

more

frequent

mowing regime

usedto

define

the

former paths.

The

stone edgings

tomostof the

formal

bedsare still in

place, though

buriedto

prevent theftand to simplify

grass cutting.

Othersections havebeen

salvaged

and

are heldin store. All loose stoneon site or in store has beencompiled in a

document - A Record

LooseArchitectural Stone .

3 . 1 . 7 . 4 The ba lu s tr ade ha ha

Surrounding the entire 11acres

of

Nesfield s gardens is a formal ha-ha.

T h e h a h a w all is f or med o f sto n e

with a plinth surmounted by a

balustrade; the square-set panelled

piers at intervals along the length have

moulded plinths and capping. This

structure was designed to allow

drainage of the formal gardens and

included internal air vents to prevent

rising

damp from

discolouring

the

emnant

balustrade

South

arterre

ath

s to n e.

On the central axis of the gardens, directly to the south of the mansion steps the

balustrades were interrupted by a pair

of

wrought iron gates leading out into the

parkland. Known as the

Golden

Gates , they were

no t

part of Nesfield s original

plan. They were made by F. Feetham

of

London and exhibited at the 1862

London Exhibition. Ward, by then Earl ofDudley, seems to have bought and

installed them. Apparently they were originally

of

gilded wrought iron, although

latterly they were painted green, and are said to have been erected to celebrate

Queen Victoria s Silver Jubilee. The gates, 12ft wide and some 16ft high, were

complementedby 40 feet of decorative railings and two square stone terminals

s ur mounted

w i t h d e c o r a te d

stone vases. T he G o ld en G at es w e re s ol d

and

taken

to Lake Havocsu in Arizona, USA. The resultant gap is a major loss in the

design, affecting themain vista fromthe Court and upsetting the balanceof the

composition.

Th e balustrade and wall

also enclosed

th e North Parterre

an d a

semicircular area

set on the main axis from the house. This large, semicircular platform acted as a

viewpoint over Front Pool.

During the 1950 s thebalustrade

dividing

the formal gardens from thepark was

gradually demolished, stretches that were easily saleable were removed, and most

of

the

coping

was thrown

into

theha-ha ditch. Small sections of complete

balustrading

survive,

although

hidden indense

and protective) ivy growth,

but

formostof thecircuit onlythemoulded plinth andthepiers arein place.

ENGLISH HERITAGE

page

19


26/71

~

~

~

Witley Court

C O N S E R V A T I O N

PLAN

West Pavil ion

: .

Part Significance

3 1 7 5 The

garden

buildings

Two classical temples were built within the South Parterre east and west of the

main axis which is centred on the Perseus Andromeda fountain. Originally

these helped to frame views within the gardens. The pavilions are open, domed

structures, square in plan approached by shallow steps. The domes have

decorative

leaf o r n a m e nt w i t h

four scrolls

3 1 7 6 Lady

Rachel s Garden

Formerly part of the Kitchen Garden

orchard lying between the walled

enclosure

of

the kitchen gardens and

the stable courtyards and separated

from the parkland to the south by the

18th century ha-ha, Lady Rachel's was

created by Lady Rachel Dudley, the

wife of the 2nd Earl during the early

1890s. The structure of Lady Rachel's

Garden is largely intact, though it now

forms the tea gardens of the 'VillaFiore in private ownership. The Kitchen

Gardens, which are all in private ownership, were probably created in the late

18th century and lie to the west of the service courts. They comprise an oval

outer area, largely orchard, contained by an ornamentalmetal fence, with an

octagonal inner walled kitchen garden. The area contained a number of

buildings, all now in private occupation, including the head gardener's house, an

accommodation block for garden labourers, outbuildings and greenhouses.

Lady Rachel s Garden topiary planting (Pardoe)

3 8 The

North Park:

Outline

History

3 1 8 1 heF ro nt P oo l

i lderness

The Front Pool is the largest

of

the three artificial pools along the

_ course

of

the Shrawley Brook in Witley Park. The water enters

feffiP^^^^^^^fe^ ^ through sc de pool from the north nd

disch rges

over astone

outfall structure, the 'Cascade', and contained by an earth dam at

|

the

southeast end of

the lake

ront Pool was

originally

Viewacross to Front

Pool

blocked by conifers (1997)

Sameviewafterrestoration inJuly 1999


^4^ .*

.

Viewfrom theNorth Front acrossFront

Pool

to NorthPark the Wilderness

beyond cl9

(DrP.RJohnson sCollection)

page 20


27/71

Witley

Court

ONSERV TION

PL N

Newfootbridge

nearing completion

spring 999

ustic

bo thouse

in 99

Underground boathouse

NGLISH H RIT G

Part

Significance

constructed as an ornamental pool flanking a formal causeway constructed in the

early 18th century by Thomas Foley TF3). By 1822 the causeway had been

demolished

and Fron t

Poo l was remode ll ed

in

a more naturalistic form

Front Pool contains a healthy stock

of

coarse fish and fishing is leased to a local

club, who have constructed a number

of

timber fishing pegs along the banks.

The north west arm

of

the lake is inaccessible due to secondary woodland and

scrub growth and the banks are outside English Heritage ownership.

The area north

of

Front Pool, The Wilderness , was planted with hardwoods

between 1772 and 1784. During the 1870s ornamental woodlands were

established along the edges

of

the Pool and to the east

of

the dam largely using

imported American species. Thereafter the area seems to have been lavishly

planted with ornamental shrubs and rhododendrons lining informal woodland

walks. Work commenced on the restoration

of

the North Park in January 1998

and was completed in May 1999. This included construction

of

the new site

access road, car park and visitor facilities; tree surgery, scrub clearance and

planting to the Wilderness woodlands and ornamental walks; path laying, fencing

and seating.

Below th e

dam

a

footbridge took the

ornamenta l walk ac ro ss the

Shrawley Brook. Only

remnants o f

the stone

bridge abutments remain as

the site of the bridge was

largely destroyed during

th e modern construction of

a concrete slab horse jump.

The footbridge was

HH repl ed byanr hed

t imber

and s to ne

structure

in 1999. Adjacent to the bridge is an underground spring set in an arched brick

and

stone enclosure,

which was

repaired at the same time.

3 8 2 T h e B o a th o u se s

A

rustic boathouse

o f

t imbe r const ruc t ion was

built on the southern

side

o f

t he smal l

western arm

of Front Pool, probably

before 1914.

The

building,

which was in danger

of

collapse, was repaired in

999

On th e north side o f th e

pool, a stone and brick

underground boathouse is set into a steep field-slope. This was used as a punt-

house, though its construction date is uncertain.

Reconstruction

of

therusticboathousecompletedinspring 999

page 21


28/71

Witley

Court

CONSERVATION PLAN

WZi

E N G LI S H H E RI T AG E

Part 1:

Significance

3 9 The Parkland:

Outline

History

Just as the development

of

the mansion at Witley can be traced from the

medievalperiod, so can the history of the park be charted oversome 500years. It

changed

in appearance and function according to contemporary

fashion

tasteand

economics

3 9

The

D e er P ar k

A parkwas in existence atWitleyby the 16thcentury Amarriage settlement

between Thomas Foley and Elizabeth Ashe

of

Halstead, Kent, in 1664, refers to

ll

that

Parkor impaled groundcalled

Witley

Park

This park, probably a deer

park, lay to the south of the house.

3 9 2 The

Formal

landscape

-

early

18th

century

It was Thomas, 1st Baron Foley of Kidderminster TF3 ,who landscaped the

park between 1700 and 1733 to provide an impressive setting to theCourt By

acquiring glebe land adjoining the churchin

1704

and purchasingHillhampton

h

7752 map Great WitleybyJ Price

Manor in 1718, he greatly extended Witley Park to the north

of

the house.

WitleyCourtnowsat at the

centre

of the

landscape

A

formal

principal

approachto the house was in place by 1732. This led across the Front Pools,

which

Foley constructed

along

the Shrawley Brook bywayofa causeway and

p ag e 2 2


29/71

Witley

ourt

CONSERV TION

PL N

ENGLISH HERIT GE

Parti

Significance

bridge

atthe widest point. Bishop HoughvisitingWitley in

1733

wrote that

Foleyhad formed a spacious

avenue

tohis

house,

resembling thatat Blenheim9

which has a similar causeway crossing a deep

ravine.

3.1.9.3

The

Landscape Park - mid/late 18th century

William

Shenstone

visiting Witleyin

1762 wrote that theparkwas capable of

being renderedfine;

twice

as striking asitisat

present .

The fourth

Lord Foley

took his strictures to heartandit is known thathe laidout ornamental plantations

in the park.

By the time

of

Thomas Foley s

cLord

Balloon )

death

TF6) in 1793 there

seemsto have been some dilapidations in the park probably causedby a lack of

managementunderhis tenure. A survey notes that ManyParts

theParkare

wet and consequently encumbered with Rushes

3.1.9.4 The Landscape1 Park - the 19th century

During

the early 19thcenturythe

landscape

was remodelled to complementthe

grand schemeby Nash that was underway. Remediesto make the parkmore

profitableincluded hollow draining, mowing the rushes, the introduction

of

at

least Forty WelshSterks bullocks) to eat the rushes, and the reduction

of

the

p ge

u

u

u


30/71

itley

ourt

CONSERVATION PLAN

ENGLISH HERIT GE

Part 1:

Significance

number of deer to five hundred. The park was extended eastwards to its present

boundary to include Warford Pool.

The causewayandbridge across Front Poolwere removed. This was completed

by 1817 Holland s map andis shownon a

number

of early 19thcentury

engravings andwatercolours. By

1839

theWilderness lying to the north-east

of

Front Pool is known to have been an area

of

mixed woodland, divided by a

carriage

drivepassing through it. To the southwest of this North Drivea

series

of

ornamentalwalks were developed alongthe banks of FrontPool and Shrawley

Brook

With the removal of the formal entranceleading up to the Court from the

turnpike

road

an approach in keepingwith a

natural

English stylelandscape was

laid out with the surviving,curving

carriage

drives forming the principal

approach,

ornamented with lodgesat eachend. The Worcester Lodgelay atthe

east entranceto Witley

Park,

while the Stourport Lodge lay atthe west entrance

in the village of Great Witley.

3.1.9.5 20th century decline and disintegration of the Parkland

By the late 19th century the park had become importantforvarious sporting

activities as well as for its landscape setting for the house.

By

1895 there was

sportinglittle 9-hole golfcourse

the

hazards

were

natural,

a smalllake, a

spinneyand fences. This seemsto have been situated between the Lodgeand

page


31/71

Witley

urt

ONSERV TION

PL N

EXTRACT

FROM THE

9 8SALE PLAN hwro SHOWING DIVISION OFLAND FOR SALE

u


32/71

~ \

Witley Court . .

CONSERVATION

PLAN

n

n

EXTRACT FROM ORDNANCE SURVEY 25 to 1 mile 88 Edition not to scale)

SHOWING AREA AROUND HOUSE


33/71

Witley Court

CONSERVATION

PLAN

Part1:Significance

Warford Pools, eastofWitley

Court

Farm.

In 1902, the

Earl

arranged agolfing

house-party to which ten topprofessionals were invitedto compete in anevent,

commemorated by a photograph now in the church.

Therewas also a cricket pitch specially designedandconstructedto the south

westof the

Court much

usedby the

second Earl

of

Dudley and

anarchery

green, laid out in the late 19thcentury. Duringthe Edwardian erathe

Worcestershire Hunt was a frequent visitor to the Court and for a time the Hunt s

kennels were housed on the

estate. In

the south west

corner o f

the

Deer Park an

enclosure wasused to keep captured fox cubs so that they couldreachadult-hood

beforebeingreleased at various points around the estate specifically for the Hunt.

This areaof the Estate is still locally known as Fox holes .

Following the fire of 1937a major sale

of

standingtimber in 1938resultedin the

obliteration

of

themajority

of

the woodland enclosing the parkand few

areas

were repl nted

Some

plantations

survived

s

woodland

but

did

not

esc pe

^

felling

of

the primetimber

trees.

Odd

remnants of

the parkland planting to the

south

survived, as did

the

trees

within the

Lower Ornamental Walks

within the

Wilderness

Avenue plantingsalongthe Carriage Driveshave disappeared ashave the

majorityof

parkland

treeswithinwhat is now primarily anarable landscape. The

pools have been graduallyengulfed by naturallyregenerating scrub creatinga

visual

divide between

th e

Court

and the North

Park

Post-war, one of the greatestimpacts on the parkhasbeen the development of

housing plots along the carriage drives isolating it from its parkland setting. This

housing development hasmeant that the carriage drive is not solely dedicated to

servicing the Court and All Saints Church and there are others with rights of

access, in particular farm vehicles and heavy transporters. In addition the

ornamental lodges have been sold and they arenow private dwellings.

3.1.10 Flora

Fauna

3 1 1 1 istory

Assessment of the ecology and wildlife conservation significance ofWitley

Court and its parklandneeds to encompass two distinct elements. It is necessary

to considerthe biologicaldiversity

of

the parkin its present condition, with

reference t o t he

contribution i t makes

to wildli fe conservation

in

local and

national contexts, and also to consider the wildlife present in the 18th and 19th

centuries with reference to its contribution to the parkas a landscapeexperienced

by the occupants ofWitley

Court,

whosedemands, however expressed, shaped

that landscape.

Modern concerns

focus on species which

are

locally uncommonbecause they

are

near

thelimitof

their

regional

distribution

oron

species

which

are

present

locally

but

are nationally

scarce or

endangered. Several plant

species

present

atWitley _

Court

fall

into

the first category;

thebat

species

and

the

beetles

and

lichens

which

willbepresent

with the

veteran trees are in

the second category.

Allorganisms

o

ENGLISH HERITAGE

Pa9e

25


34/71

^ itleyourt

C O N S E RV A T IO N P L AN

n

ENGLISH HERITAGE

Part

Significance

have complex habitat requirements but vary widely in their adaptability to

change; some have highly critical requirements

of

a number of different habitats

bats are a classic example of this.

The obligation to conserve endangered wildlife in some cases a legal

requirement is independent ofhistoric conservation. A long-eared bat in a

commonplace modern house receives the same level ofprotection as one in a

grade I listed building. The visitor to Witleywho lives in such a house does

however have an expectation

of

wildlife presence which is similar to that

of

most

19th century visitors; bats are bats beetles are beetles but a skylark is recognised

and valued and woodland should have birds singing in spring.

Careful consideration

th e

historic record can enable

us

to construct

a

habitat

model of the park. The western half of the south park area could have been

fenced as deer park by the late Middle Ages since an impaled deer park is

referred to in the 17th century and one appears on the 1732 map. This map

shows the deer park as separate from the court which is surrounded by small

fields. The whole area

of

these fields south

of

the carriage drive had been

converted to parkland by 1770 so this farmland was most unlikely to have been

significantly improved for agriculture beforehand. It is likely that many of the

parkland trees were present as hedgerow trees before emparkment and that plant

diversity would have been high within the fields.

Emparkment would have resulted in some loss

of

hedgerow habitat but the

planting ofnew trees and the increase in woodland around the edges would have

replaced this. The large area ofpasture not overgrazed damp in places and

associated with pools streams woodland and old trees should have had a rich

and diverse population

of

wildlife. A small proportion of creatures classified as

vermin by the gamekeepers might have been trapped or shot at every

opportunity but small animals including most birds and insects and all flowering

plants would have been seen as part of nature s rich tapestry very evidently

valued by many Victorians.

The improvements to drainage around 1820 could have caused some loss

of

habitat diversityand the intensificationof game shootingand managementfrom

1860 onwards could have adversely affected woodland and caused further

pressure on vermin but there was no major habitat change until the 1938sale

when the park ceased to be one unit; the woods were clear felled and most

of

the

south park area convertedto commercial agriculture. The experienceof the

modern visitor to Witleynot only lacks the general visualimpression of open

parkland within a wooded landscape but also misses the detailed and immediate

impression of natural countryside engendered by the closepresence of deer,

skylarks, othersongbirds, butterflies grasshoppers anda variety of wild

flowers.

3 1 1 1

Present t tus

Witley Court contains no statutory sites for wildlife conservation such as Sites of

SpecialScientific Interest

SSSIs .

Ironically however, it is a fact that the

ruinous condition of

the

buildings and neglected

state

of

adjacent

woodland has

page


35/71

Witley Court

ONSERV T ION PL N

The

LesserHorseshoea t

-

one

ofBritains s rarest bats which

roosts in the cellars

of Witley

ourt

NGLISH H RIT G

Part Significance

led to the development

of

a wide range of habitats around the site that makes a

valuable contribution to conservation of wildlife and localbiodiversity. Witley

Court is a notable site for bat conservation- 6 species reside here, of the 14bat

species

foundin Britainand theCourtcellars arean important

roosting area.

Badgers are known to forage in and aroundtheWitleyCourtparterres. Anarea

of permanent pasture as foraging ground providing earthworms is a necessary

part

of

the ecological unit around badger setts; in this case there is no other

accessible area within their home range.

TwoareaswithinWitley Parkhave been designated by theWorcestershire

Wildlife Trust as Special WildlifeSites.This designationapplies to sites

regarded as

of

at least County level importance for nature conservation. Front

Pool is part of SpecialWildlifeSite SWS 5076/17

Pools near

Witley

Court )

and is notable for a swamp communityof reed

mace

Typha

angustifolia which

is uncommon inWorcestershire. The second Special Wildlife Siteis Shrawley

Brook and its environs, SWS No. 5076/21 .

Elsewhere at Witley Court, there is a mix of woodlands, scrub, grasslands and

water features. The former parkland has been converted to arable farmland,

which is typical of the changes to have occurred in the wider countryside

The woodland areas along the northern edge ofNorth Park are largely dominated

by the non-native sycamore with a few pedunculate oak trees, crack willows, ash

trees and one very large grey poplar. Examination

of

the understorey shows that

in addition to sycamore seedlings there are a large number

of

native trees and

shrubs present, including shade tolerators such as yew, holly and wild cherry. In

the less disturbed areas the ground flora is typical

of

a Midland oak wood on a

neutral soil, dominated by bramble. No rare or uncommon plants or animals

have been recorded from this woodland except for sedges in wet areas, but these

woods are of value for nesting birds and as a foraging resource. There is

considerable potential to improve their conservation value.

The water quality in Front Pool is generally good despite substantial silt deposits.

There are no detectable contaminants or pollutants. There is some nutrient

enrichment although this varies across the lake and is probably related to

decaying organic matter and to the presence

of

some Canada Geese.

3 2 STATUTORY CONTROLS

3 2

cheduled

n c ie n t monumen ts

Thescheduling of

monuments

by theSecretary of

State

for

Culture

Mediaand

Sportis part of the principal legislation affecting monuments in England

Ancient Monuments

and

Archaeological

Areas Act 1979

amended

by the

National Heritage Act 1983 .

Scheduling is a very selective process and to be included the monument must be

page 27


36/71

itley ourt

CONSERVATION PLAN

ENGLISH HERITAGE

Part

1:

Significance

ofnational importance. Witley Court its gardens and associatedbuildings are

scheduled on account of the following criteria:

Primarily it was recognisedthat schedulingWitley would assistin achieving

its long term preservation

Situated in an areahighly accessible to the public from a predominantly wide

urban area

of

the East Midlands it has a high amenity value

It is a classic example of anEnglish country house where the domestic

development canbe demonstrated overmore than 600 years andis typically

representativeof contemporary architectural styles

As amonumentWitley Court is an important regional example of its type

The Perseus and Andromeda fountain is a rareexample ofhigh Victorian

garden sculpture.

The monument survives to a great extent both above and below ground

The close relationship between

Witley

Court GreatWitley Church and the

Nesfield fountains means that they are recognised asbeing ofGroup value

with a closely allied development

There is great potential atWitley for teachingus about the past. The site is

archaeologicallyrich in the information that it holds relatingto the

construction and development of a country estate house and allied services

There are good historical records of the monument. These are

complemented by detailed records of recent conservation and consolidation

works

The extent

of

the Scheduled AreaunderEnglish Heritage Guardianship is shown

on the LandscapeContext plan opposite page2.

3 Listed Buildings

Lists of buildings of special architectural orhistoric interest are

compiled

in order

to offer

guidance

to

local planning authorities,

the

lists being issued

bythe

Department

of

Culture, Media

and

Sport DCMS, under

the

Town and Country

Planning Act 1971 . Where a buildingis both hsted andscheduledasanancient

monument, the statutory controls

of

the 1979

Act take

precedence see 3.3.1 .

Buildings

are

classified

in

grades

according

to

their relative importance.

St

Michael

All

Angels

church, Witley Court

and

its

link

tothe

church, and the

Perseus Andromeda Fountain r

all

listed s Grade I buildings, inrecognition

page


37/71

Witley ourt

CONSERVATION

PLAN Part1: Significance

thatthey areof great importance to thenation s built

heritage

Less than5 of

all

listed buildings are

Grade I, thereby

highlighting

the importance of theWitley

buildings in anational context. They

are

outstanding architecturally - both

individually andtaken togetheras a group

There are no less than 16otherbuildingswithinWitley parkclassifiedas

Grade

II buildings. These are buildings of special interestwhereeveryeffort should be

madeto preserve them. Two of these are particularly important andmerit

Grade

II* status- the curvedlinkingwing, pavilionand orangery andthe Flora

fountain

The curvedwing, pavilion and orangery are examplesof Samuel

Daukes work and contain some ofForsytes stone carving andmasonry. There

was

particular

technological virtuosityin theway thatthe thick plate

glass

of the

conservatorywindows were inserted into the buildingwithout conventional

window frames The Flora fountain is another important group ofVictorian

gardenstatuary (see 4.5.2).

Of the remaining Grade II listedbuildings some are specificallyarchitectural

features of the formal gardens :

Retaining walls, steps with intermediatespursapprox 15m to the

south th e ourt

Enclosing screen wall with alcove west of orangery

Gate Pier and wall and base

of

second gate pier 30m east

of

stable

complex

South-east pavilion and adjoining section ofbalustrading

South-west pavilion and adjoining section

of

balustrading

Section ofbalustrading to north-east of the Court

Gate Piers and gates to

west

drive to Church (wrought iron)

These listings all reflect an attempt and intention to protect the designed layout

of

the form l

g rdens

Although protection c n

be given to

individual g rden { _

features, the overall plan and designed effect of a landscapehas no statutory

protection.

The Stables and coach house are also Grade II buildings, asimportant and

integral

buildingswithin theWitley Courtcomplex. The other

Grade

II

buildings

are all

estate buildings

which

illustrate

the

social

and

economic aspects

of

estate life and the manner in which functional buildings were incorporatedinto

anornamental

landscape

becoming

important architectural

features in theirown

right:

The

Garden House andVilla

Fiore

Garden wall to rear ofGarden

House

and

Villa

Fiore

Railings and gate piers and gates to garden enclosure north and east

ofGardenHouse andVilla Fiore (wrought iron)

Stourport orRoseryLodge

Worcester Lodge

Balustrading and

steps to

Worcester Lodge

ENGLISH HERIT GE

p ge

u


38/71

Witley

ourt

CONSERVATION

PLAN

ENGLISH

HERITAGE

Part 1:

Significance

3 3 Protected species

Witley

Parkcontains no statutorily

designated

sitesof natureconservation

interest

SSSIs .

However, it is thehabitat for certain animal species protected

by

legislation.

The

Wildlife

and

Countryside

Act

1981

(as

amended , provides

protection forallbat species

Vespertilionidae

andRhinolophidae . The

badgers

atWitley are legallyprotectedunder theBadgersAct 1992.

3 2 4 Statutory requirements applicable to works consents and

Planning Permission

Anyone wishing

to carry out

works

ona site

which

is

scheduled

or

contains

a

scheduled/listedmonumentmayneedbothplanningpermission and scheduled

monumentor listed building consent. Theremightalso be other statutory

consentsapplicable to theworks.

Class Consent: Certain categoriesofworks to scheduledmonuments have

scheduledmonumentconsent grantedautomatically by virtue of

theAncient

Monuments (Class Consents)Order 1981 (amended 1984 . Thisprocedure

is similar to that whereby planning permission is automatically granted for

certain developments by the GeneralDevelopmentOrder. Theseworks

include current maintenance to buildings and landscape and some works

essential in the interests ofhealth safety. Under Class 6 English Heritage

had consent to execute works on scheduled sites in its guardianship.

3 5 Monuments

in

guardianship

Themajority

of

scheduled or hsted monuments are privately owned and,

although some are open to the visitingpublic, keeping a monument in a good

state of repair and conservation can be both costly in financial terms and

demanding in terms of facilities. The Secretary of State has the power to acquire

an endangered monument or to become the guardian

of

a monument. English

Heritage has some 400 historic buildings and monuments in its care on behalf

of

the Secretary

of

State - one being Witley Court.

3 6

Register of

Historic

Parks

Gardens

Theegister

Parks and ardens

Special

istoric Interest compiledby

English Heritage is an advisory document produced to draw attention to

important historic gardens andparksconsidered to be an essential part of the

nation s heritage. Theaimis to inform

owners,

planners, developers andother

statutory bodies and advisory agencies so that measures can be considered to

protect the heritage. Although no statutory controlsfollow from the inclusion

of

a site onthe

Register, planning authorities

are charged with their protection when

preparing development plansandin determining planning applications.

Sites

that are

included are graded in the same

manner

as

for listed

buildings

p ge 30


39/71

Witley Court

CONSERVATION PLAN Part1: Significance

u

Grade I, II*or II)to denote distinct qualities, although unlike listedbuildings

there is no statutory control relating to development or

changes

within the site.

Witley Court is

designated

as a Grade n* garden andpark in recognition of its

exceptional interest.

Witley Court is one of 16 historic parks and

gardens

in Worcestershire whose

registration acknowledges theirnational importance. Among the 16 aretwo

Grade I sites,

Hagley

Hall and

Croome

Court, which standamong the greatest of

England s 18th century landscape parks. Witley Court is one of five Grade II*

sites.

Had

moreofNesfield s garden design beenvisibleit wouldundoubtedly

have been a strongcandidatefor GradeI registration.

3 7

re e

Preservat ion rders

There

are

three TPOs TPO 1 1238

pt;

TPO 6 6

pt;

TPO

1 1 93

pt

which

^_J

together cover the Court, the Nesfield Gardens,the Front Pool bank and dam, the

southern part

of

the lower rhododendron walks and sections

of

the west and east

Carriage Drives. All are blanket TPOs, which means that all the trees within

these

areas

areprotected and i f any tree is damaged, diseased or die, they must be

replantedwith the approval

of

the local authority. There is also a requirement to

agree any tree works, including felling, in advance with the local authority.

3.2.8

Guidance

notes

and

policies

A number of planning policy documents exist which define the constraints within

which any modification, alteration or development must take place. The

following are considered relevant to this Conservation plan:

Listed Building Policies Planning Policy Guidance No. 15) : the Local

Authority will seek to ensurethat any development which affects the setting of a

Listed Building, Scheduled Ancient Monument, or Registered Parkpreserves or

enhancesthat setting. Proposals which would have a detrimental effect on the

setting will not normally be granted planning permission.

Archaeological control Planning Policy GuidanceNo. 16) : Appropriate

archaeological

evaluations should

be

submitted

as

part

of a

planning application

to allow

proper

account tobe taken of the archaeological potential of the site in

determining that application.

Theguidance seeks to

minimise

the disturbance to other archaeological sites

which

may

or

may

notbeapparent when a

planning

application is

submitted.

Where disturbance

of

archaeological deposits is unavoidable, the

planning

authority

willrequire awritten proposal for the

excavation,

recording and post-

excavation analysis of such remains tobe approved before the development can

start.

The general

supposition

isin favour of the preservation of the

archaeological resource

in situ.

ENGLISH

HERITAGE page 31

u

u


40/71


41/71

Witley

Court

CONSERV TION

PL N Part 1:Significance

4 THE NATURE

AND

CONDITION OF THE WITLEY

COURT ESTATE ASSESSMENT

OF

SIGNIFICANCE

4

SIGNIFICANCE

The Conservation Planmethodology is useful in helping to balance:

an understanding of

the

importance of individual elements of

the

site

w t

an understanding of the importance of the Witley Court estate as a

w o l

The cultural

significance of a

place

is an

amalgam

of architectural

archaeological

and

artistic

values. The

significance

is

enhanced through

looking

at

the

site s

I

history

sociology its association with people and events in thepast. An

appreciation o the landscape and ecological values further infuse a site with its

special qualities and contributetowards a sense of place . An appraisal of the

major components

o

Witley Court has looked at these values in terms o then-

levels of importance; international national regional and local.

4 2 O V E RV I EW OF SIGN IFIC AN C E

The Witley Court Estate dominated the Teme vaUeyin north-western

Worcestershire for over three hundred years. It epitomises the development rise

and decline

o

the great EngUshcountry estate over some five hundred years with

its cycles of investment and

decline.

The consequences of a

20th

centurywhich

has seen two World Wars and the decline o the agricultural and industrial

economic

base whichfunded the mid/late

19th

century folie de grandeur of high

Victorian palace and elaborate gardens is embodied in the Witley Court seen

today. It is useful to s tand back and define w hat makes Wit ley C ourt special - it

is

an impressive ruin with monumental classical porticoes and \ /

extensive relic gardens

a microcosm

of

the rise and decline of the English

rural

estate

a place of special heritage significance

a place which stimulates the imagination and challenges the

visitor

a place ofmelancholy and decay

4 3

SIGNIFICANCE

BY

AREA

4.3.1 Significance ofWitley Court as a Ruin

Witley

Court and the link to the church are Listed Grade The curved linking

wing

pavilion and orangery are Listed

Grade II .

The

complex

of

ruins

at

Witley

Court

is

significant because:

As

a

ruin

taken

into guardianship

it

has

received national recognition

of its ^

architectural social and historical importance despite t declining \

ENGLISH HERIT GE page


42/71

n

o

n

Witley Court

ONSERV TION

PL N

ENGLISH HERIT GE

Part 1: Significance

fortunes during the 20th century

Its

historical continuity as a country

house of

leading county importance

Archaeological investigation ofthe building hasshownthe

complex

development of the country

houseoversome600years. For a long

time

it

was

the

country seat

of

families

prominent

in localpolitics,

who

moved in

the

leading social

circles ofthe

day andwas an expression oftheir economic

we lth

It is nationally important as a prime example of one of the great 19th

century country

houses

In 1897, Country Lifedescribedit aspre-eminent amongst thestatelyhomes

of

England though

itis architecturally

without

particular

distinction.

Despite its

ruined

state,

its

architectural qualities

arestill

apparent

and

givenrecognition by the

range

of

statutory

conservation policies appliedfor

its protection.

It is a nationally

important

example

of

Nash s

work

During

the

later

remodelling

of the mansion, Nash s two immenseporticoes

were retained. Thesestill dominatethe buildings, and are a majorfeature

ofthecomposition respected bysubsequent architectural

developments.

It is an important example ofmid Victorian architecture

TheItalianatedesign

of

Witley Court wasgreatly influencedby theroyal

palace at OsborneHouse, Isle ofWight. Thisstyle based on 16thand 17th

century

Italiandesignbecame

the

foremost

style,

andDaukes designis a

significantexample

of

this

contemporary trend.

It is nationally significant as one of only three country houses designed

by aukes

The

othersare at nearbyAbberleyHall 1845-46), also in theItalianate

style

andatHorstedPlace, Sussex 1850-52) which is ina Tudor

style.

It

has national recognition

of

its architectural social and historical

importance

When taken into Guardianship in1972 the sole aim was tosaveit

from

further damage - exceptionally,

the

Department of the

Environment

took the

whole

of

thehouse, garden and service courts intoState

care.

It is an impressive ruin, with

imposing

classicalporticoes of

monumental

proportions which dwarfs thehumanscale

It is

of

high recreational value

Witley

Court is visited by

thousands of

people

every

year,

who

are

attracted

by

the

ruins, ruined garden and the opencountryside around

the

site. It is

page

34


43/71


44/71

n

Witley Court

ONSERV TION PL N

ENGLISH HERIT GE

Part 1:

Significance

perpetuation of the

ruined

stateof the

ouse

is costlyand

conceiv bly

ot the best method

o

retarding the decay process

Though the

main

building

has been made

structurally safe

itisstill a

ruin and

internal

walls

are

open to the weather. There are large areas ofwall

plaster

in

need ofconservation

and

areas offacing stonework that

needs

re fixing in its

originalposition.

The main

parts

of the building accessible to visitors are inreasonable condition

and the porticoes and terrace steps

on

the

north

and south sides have been

repaired

and a

floor slab

has been

installed over the

basements in the main

hall

range and

the

east

wing.

The

visitor now has access atgroundfloorlevel

these areas. However

the

terrace stepson

the

eastfronthave

not

asyet, been

repaired.

The

kitchen

and

stable courtyards which are

to the

south

and

west

the

churchyard are not

open

thepublic and much of the area has been used asa

works

compoundformany years. Although not in imminent

danger

of

collapse

the walls and

buildings

that surround the service courtyards

are

at

risk

andtheir

theattribution toNash makes theseareas

some

importance.

The western wallsand entrance the outercourtyard have recently been

comprehensively repaired.

The courtyard

is

presently used

asa carparkfor

disabledvisitors andfor visitors to the Church only.

4 3 2 Significance:

St

Michael

and

All

ngels

Church Churchyard

The

church

StMichael AllAngels isListedGrade I.

The parish church

o

Great Witley situated alongside the ruined court is

Recognised internationally as an outstanding example

of

a Baroque

hur h

in t r ior

Theinteriorisfurnishedwithworks byBellucci, BaguttiandJoshuaPrice

derivedfromLordChandos chapel at Cannons. Thesewereconsidered

some themostmagnificent decorations theirtime and renowned

internationally

Regionally important in its role as a parish church

A

church

hasexistedon

the

hill as a centre for

Christian

worship over

hundreds

years. It is significant that since 1967 the local community have

restored the church which was

the

onlyroofed building andcontrasts

with

the

ruined

rooflesscourtalongside.

Inextricably linked with the history and development ofWitley Court

Although

itis the

Great Witley

parishchurch ithassome

the

character

aprivate chapel. The Baroque church wasbuilt byThomas 2nd

Lord

Foley

andhis

mother

Maryto replace

the

medieval parish church

The

church

page 36


45/71

Witley

Court

ONSERV TION PL N

Part 1:Significance :

and crypt contains a series ofdistinguished monuments to past owners of

Witley

Court

-

the

Foleyfamily

the

Earls ofDudley including a monument

ofl

753 to1st

Baron

FoleybyJMRysbrack

Important for its notable

collection

of 19th century

English church

fittings

by

local craftsmen

The19th century

fittings

were

designed by Samuel

Daukesfor the 1st Earl of

Dudley William and James Forsyth undertook the

carvings

at

their

workshop in

Worcester

C o n s er v a ti o n I s su e s

lack consistency in interpretation and a distinction between the

Church and the Court which is a recent situation

Extensive repairs and refurbishment startedin 1962 by theParochialChurch

Council andnow the church is invery goodcondition andsubject to

quinquennial

review

The

churchyard

is mainly laidtograsswhich is regularly

mown althougha coupleofovergrown areas conceal monuments

4 3 3

Significance

the

Nesfield

Parterre Gardens

The

gardensare registeredas a GradeII historicgarden

The gardens are important as being

An

outstanding

example

of

formal garden design

Despite theirrelictstate thegardensare an outstandingexample

of

formal

gardendesign byone

of

themostprominentgardendesigners

of

the

Victorian

period.

Nationally significant s

one of

the f w surviving examples

of

William

^

Nesfie ld s

w r

The Nesfieldgardensarenationallysignificantas

there

arefew surviving

examples

of WA Nesfield s work - most gardens having

been

remodelled or

destroyed followinga reaction in the later19th

century

against

this

formal

style Any surviving

private

gardens

are

similarly relict

or

the

outline only

surviv s

An essential complement to the grand palatial scale

of

the Court

Theformal gardens are highly significant

in

relation to the

grand

palatial

scaleof

the

Court Their existence andsurvival

must

be

considered

complementary

rather than subordinate to the

buildings

They are part of

the

grand

scheme

conceived by the

first

Earl

ofDudley

The

garden design

hadan

order

and

structure which imparts

a strongair

offormality

A rare surviving example of a 19th century parterre garden

ENGLISH HERIT GE Pa9e 37


46/71

Witley ourt

ONSERV TION PLAN Part Significance

They are important

for

theirhighdegreeofsurvivalwhich is nationally

rare

oftheparterresand theirconstituentelements Parterres

of

this type were

laid in manygardens in the latterpart ofthe19th century butonly afew

survive. Excavation

of

theeastparterrehas revealedtheelements

of

Nesfield design.

A garden with an exceptional level

of

existing documentation

The

gardens

at

Witley Court

are exceptionally welldocumented both

historically

through

illustrations andphotographs and archaeologically

where

excavationshaveproved thepersistenceoftheparterreforms in the

East Parterre. Althoughplanting changed over theyears this mainly

appliedto thebeddingandherbaceousplanting

schemes

theformal aspect

and layoutojthe parterres changinglittle Somedetails

of

theplanting

/ N

schemes

ofthe

1860-1870scan bediscernedfromcontemporary

horticultur l ccounts

n

outstanding assemblage

of

sensory experiences

Fromthe dramaticframing effect

of

theNorthParterre to the

intimacy of

the

East Parterre to thecontainedgrandscale

of

theSouthParterre thegardens

provided visitors with a richrange

of

experiences for the imagination and

intellect as well as thesenses - sight sound and smell

Evidence of a once opulent lifestyle

The gardens provide evidence

of

an

extravagant

privilegedand

opulent

lifestyle nowlargely unsustainable

Gard en o n se r va ti o n I ss u es

the sense

of

order, focused views and three dimensional space is

f* ** diminished by

the

bsence

ofr hite tur l

pl nting nd surf ced p ths

the diffusion

of

terrace embankments for ease

of

maintenance, and

uncontroUed growth ofvegetation.

the ephemeral content of the gardens statuary, vases, urns etc) provided

emphasis to path lines or terminated vistas, and the visual impact

of

the

gardens is diminished by their loss

The

formal gardens arean integralpart of the architectural design and historic

value

of

Witley

Court They

are

of

equalvalue to thebuildings andshould not

be consideredonly as a setting for the house. Archaeological excavationhas

shownthattheparterresforming an integralpart of theNesfield design were

scarcelyalteredandfull detailsoftheirdesign can be established.

It is important to align theconservation oftheformalgardenswith that ofthe

buildings

Thedesignframework

of

thegardensshouldbe restoredso thatthe

sense

of

scale impactandarchitectural dramacan be appreciated In their

current state Nesfield s skilful use ofscale andperspective is lost and the

existing

structural garden elements are without

context

appearing

lostina

bare

grass sward The

impact

ofthefountains is marred bya bleakgroundplane.

ENGLISH HERITAGE

p ge 38


47/71

Witley

ourt


Restoration wouldincura reduction ofabout20 in theareaofpermanent

grasslandwithin the

gardens

Of little intrinsic

value

in itself itis of

value

for

foraging

birds

andmammals since itis a source ofinvertebrates often of

seasonal importance.

The

gardens

were

plannedforfamilyuseandfor entertaining ona lavishscale

butnotfor theincreasingnumbers ofvisitors that

arrive

today Large events

cancause excessivewearand tearand evendamageunlessa sustainablelevel is

realised. Assessing suitable levels

of

use is vital

4 4 Significance: the Fountains

The

Perseus Andromeda Fountainis ListedGrade I and theFlorafountain is

Listed rade

II

The fountains at Witley are significant as:

A nationally important grandiose 19th century outdoor sculptural

composition

u

The

centralPerseus Andromedafountain is said to be the largest

sculpturalcomposition inEuropeand thefountainsare recognisedas two of

themost importantfountains in the country

Part

of

a long European tradition

TheEuropeantradition

of

fountains usingstatuarydepicting classical,

mythologicalfigures as their centrepiece, is a long one going back to

Renaissance gardens inItaly whichwere inspiredbyHadrian

fs

villa at

Tivoli

In design

terms

as centrepieces to

the

Nesfield parterres

h y

are th focus ofth gardens In

t rms

ofth

hierarchy

ofth exterior

I

J

buildings theyare thefocus oftheparterres complementingtheCourtas the

focus

of

thelandscape. Thedesign ofthe twofountaingroupsalsoprovided

a contrast in effects - theFlora fountain relyingmoreon thesoothing nature

offalling water as opposed to thedramaticunleashingofsheerpowerfrom

thePerseus Andromedafountain

A significant feat

of

ornamental

water

engineering

The

construction ofthefountains wasa massiveworkofengineeringand the

logistics

were

considerable. Waterfor thefountainswaspumpeduphill

from

the

Hundred

Poll usinga single-piston

steam

engine to a reservoir

1km west

of

thehouse

From

thereservoir thewater was

fed

to thefountain

at the rateofover 4,000 gallons a

minute

A spectacular visual audio display

The

occasionalspectacularfountaindisplays along

with

the

thunderous

-

roar ofwater

provided both a

diversion

anda contrast to

the

normal

M

ENGLISH HERITAGE p ge


48/71

Witley Court

ONSERV T ION PL N

ENGLISH HERIT GE

Par t : Significance

tranquil

nature ofthe

parterre gardens

this

was

animation

ona grand

scale anda highlightofa visit to theCourt.

n

iconographic

statement

The reading of

which may

beas

deep

oras shallow as its observer s

imagination

Fountain onserva t ion I s su e s

the fountains are presently difficultto understandbecause of the loss of

detail and damage which reinforces the mythological stories they are

designed to teU

the fountains are currently inoperative thus removing the design

spectacle andanimation fromthe gardenalongwith the visualand

audible sensation they were designed to stimulate.

the fountains currently fail to illustrate the opulence and spectacle which

would h ve been the c lim x of a v is it t o the our t

The

centrepiece

to the Perseus

Andromeda Fountain

is in reasonable

conditionandhas hadsome recentminorrepair buttheNereid anddolphin

figures were sold in

the

1960} The centralfigureof

the

Florafountain was

broken into

pieces inan

unsuccessful attempt

to

remove

it. The stone

required

to re-carve itwaspurchased in 1996,

however

this

work

hasyet to

start.

The

sameyear

the

basins

of

bothfountains

were

relinedwith asphalt andare

now

filledwith water. This waterbarrier hashelpedtoprevent anyfurthervandalism

to th e st tues

Although the

route of

thefountains originalunderground services is known

and thepassages survive in a reasonable condition all thepipes andmachinery

have been lost.A briefhas beenprepared

for

a surveyofthe underground

tunnels andpipe

work. There

areseveral issues whichremain to be resolved,

namely:

the extent

of

thepassage to the north

of

thePerseus Andromedafountain

the extentand nature

of

thepipe workeastwardsfrom thePerseus

Andromedapassage

theexact course ofthepipe workfrom thereservoirand

Washing

Pool to the

Perseus Andromedafountain.

Apartfrom recentminoreventsusingmobilepumps thefountainshavenot

playedsince the 1930s. ThePoseidon Society wasformed in 1989 withthe

intention ofrestoringthePerseus Andromeda andFlora Fountains to their

originalsplendour andworking

order. Their restoration

wouldaddsignificantly

to theattractions of Witley Court provide afocus for thegardens and

buildings

andprovidea highlyunusual architectural ensemble compared to othersites in

theUnitedKingdom.

page 4


49/71

Witley

Court


The Perseus

Andromeda

Fountain follow on instyle and theme

from the

great

fountains

shown

at

the Great

Exhibition in

1851

followedby the

Atlasfountain

at Castle Howard i n 8 53

4 5

Significance:

the

Balustrade

Ha Ha

Th e

balustrade

is

Listed

Grade II

The balustrade is significant as :

A foremost example of a formal balustraded

terrace

While

there aremany examples

of

suchbalustraded terraces in this country

there

arefew

which

encompass a

comparable

llacres

of

formal

garden

and

built on such apalatial scale

Using some innovative design techniques

Archaeological excavation andsurveyworkhas demonstratedthe innovative

integraldrainage systemand air gap designed to ensure thatdampdid not

disfigure thestonework all developedbyNesfield

on se r vat io n I ss u es

The balustrade was a physical and metaphysical barrier, important in

enclosing and protecting an area

of

controUed landscape, clearly defining

and demarcating the intensive and intricate horticultural areas from the

rural, more natural landscape beyond. The balustrade defines this

boundary and creates a visual barrier which stops the eye, particularly on

the east and north side

of

the garden where extensive views over the park

were esire

the Golden Gates provided a focal point beyond the Perseus

ndromed

fount in

nd c me into their own right when the fount in {^J

was not playing and by providing definition to the southern extremity of

the garden boundary

the balustradeprovidesprotectionto a vertical drop into the ha-ha and in

some areas this is significant, particularly on the east side

of

the garden

the perimeter strip immediatelybeyond the balustradeis weed infested,

provides a seedbed of rankweeds and

visu y

detracts fromviewsout

of the garden

Undergrowth hasbeen cleared alongthe whole

perimeter

length andthe ha ha

excavated to

retrieve

all

the

copings and

broken balusters.

Aphotographic

survey has

been carried out

toenable restorationplanstobeprepared. Survey

andexcavation haveproducedevidence ofthe integraldrainage system.

The

restoration of the

balustrade

is

important

inenclosing

the

formal

gardens

from

a

design perspective and

to

some extent

will

aidin

defining

the

guardianship boundary and assist in site security The

whole

area in front of \^J

NGLISH

H RIT G

Pa9e41


50/71

n

n

n

Witley Court

CONSERV T ION

P L A N

E N G LIS H H E R IT A G E

Part

:Significance

theCourthas nowbeen restoredand thebalustradingis being rebuilt

April

1999). Due to theuseofthe lawnsas aforaging area bybadgers special

provisionwillhave tobemadeso as not to

impede

theiraccess to thisarea.

4 3 6

Significance the

Garden Buildings

The Pavilions

ar e

Listed

rade

II

They are significant as

An

integral part of the garden design

Of limited

importance

by themselves, the

garden

pavilions arean integral

part

of

the garden design. Viewedfrom

the

steps infrontof

the

mansion, the

two

temples

orpavilions, slightlyfurther away than the Perseus

Andromeda

fountain, help toframe theview

of

the

risinggroundbetween

This viewwouldhavefocussedon theGoldenGates.

Thepavilions survived the depredations of the 50s and

60s

andare still

reasonably

complete,

although nowwithout the urns andsomeof thepaving

Theirfunction in terms ofthe formaldesigned landscape should be retained and

the

temples

conserved.

4 3 7 Significance Lady Rachel s Garden

They are significant as

Being important in relation to the wider scheme of survival at Witley

Cour t

Although theoriginalplantinghas longsincegone the18thcentury walls

of

thewalledgardensand thegrass terracesfrom LadyRachel sGarden

survive. They

aresignificant in relation to thewiderscheme

of

survivalat

Witley Court.

Con se r va t i o n

I s sues

the Western Gardens are currently managed as private garden and

commercial tea rooms; the historic boundary fencing though run down

and damaged is largely intact and some evidence the early garden

layout survives

In addition to thewalled kitchen gardens whichare inseparate ownership and

theGardener s House to the

north-west,

thiswholeareahas becomefragmented

post-war. The threat

of

ad hoc development along thecarriagedrive inWitley

Park is a constantpossibility that

would, if

permitted

compromise

future

restoration opportunities ofthecarriage

drive,

LadyRachel s gardenand the

overall ambience and characterofthesite.

page

42


51/71

Witley

ourt

CONSERVATION P N Part : Significance

4 8

Significance:

the North

Park

NorthParkis important as it aUows for the only surviving closepubUc

views

of

Witley

Court The splendour of St Michael s Church andthe ruined

Witley

Courtcan be seen and appreciated in their landscape setting fromthe

A443

and

areas along the Pool House Lodge Drive. Furthermore, as the Southern Parkland

whichis the greaterextent of WitleyPark) is now under mainlyarable

cultivation, the only survivingareas of parklandare to be found in the North Park

area. The main surviving elements

of

North Park are:

Fron t Pool

Is an

important

earlyelement in the landscape design originating in the

early18th

century

andremodelled ina more naturalistic style in

the

early

19thcentury Although notsignificanton its ownterms thenaturalistic and

romantic landscape

laid

out around

the

Front

Pool

and

the

Wilderness

in

I

J

the later19th

century

provides an important contrast with theformality

the

gardens around

Witley

Court; Front Pool may also contain

important

archaeologicalevidence

theformer

causeway

The Ornamenta l Walk s

Contain theonlysurvivingfloral elements thegardensnear theCourt

along witha largenumber original 19thcentury specimen

tree

planting

not lost in the 1938fellings; it is a

quiet

contemplative andunderstated

area importantfor wildlife conservation and contains

many

theoriginal

sensual elements

the early design including thecascade the brookwith

itspools andothervisual surprisesalong withglimpsedviews

the

Court

The

Boathouses

The early twentieth

century

boathouses designed r theuse thefamily

are an interestingsurvival

early 20th centurygarden architecture They

make an interesting composition

with

ront

Pool

andpoint to one

of

its

K^_

amenity uses

on se rva t ion I s su e s

currently the lakeside edge is inaccessible and the waUis damaged

having cleared regenerating growth, gaps in vegetation need further

underplanting to recreate a flowering backdrop to the Ornamental Walks

the new car park in the Wilderness is located on part of the site that has

lost much of its historic significance and is designed as an amenity area.

the clearings and replantings of the Wilderness around car park are

designed to be implemented over a twenty year period.

ront Pool

Park

lacks the animation

and

interest

of

livestock

that

would

havegrazed it. Parkland planting has beenre-established in this

field

ENGLISH HERITAGE

Pa9e

4


52/71


53/71

itleyCourt

ONSERV TION PL N

Part : Significance

fencing and thesite theDeer BarnandKeeper s Lodge

burnt down

1950 s .

An integral component

of

the architectural composition of the house

The

parklandprovideda setting

r

the

house.

Its recentloss meansthat

modern views

Witley

Court have been incomplete

with

a

consequent

loss

landscape value.

n

example

of

a designed landscape

park

with medieval deer

park

origins

Itprobablyexistedas a medieval deerparkpre-datingthe19thcentury

sporting estate by somefour hundredyears.

n

influential impact on the development

of

the surrounding area

A substantialarea

landmanagedas an estate, ownedand controlledby

single

landowners

for generations, has had a major impact on the

cultural

andsocial development

theadjacentlocal

community

n important amenity and ecological site

Thediverse landscape/landusesandsubsequenthabitatvariety

the

surroundingparkland is notable.

Parkland onserva t ion I s su e s

the landscape has become visuaUyf ragmented by loss

trees and

through changing agricultural usage from pastoral to arable and has also

lost its animation by virtue

loss Uvestock.

pools are poorly maintained particularly the structural elements

the drives which previously gave access to the house have become

degraded and difficult to pass. The historic entrance gates have been \ /

removed and the boundaries

the lodges have been domesticated and

the historical entrances no longer have an imposing presence. The loss

this presence does not help to discourage unauthorised visitors.

very limited pubUc access to parkland though Whitley Court itselflinks

with local and regional footpaths.

the boundaries

the carriage drives have become domesticised and have

lost continuity and visual interest

The

intensification agriculture andploughing up parklandpost-war reflects

recent economic changes. In

the

long

term

as agricultural needs change and

diversify there may be

the opportunity

to

revert

some arable

areas

topasture.

Meanwhile itmay bepossible

through

a

range

local initiatives toreplant

specific trees/areas woodland andencourage woodland

management

ina

manner

which will

allow theparkland

planting

structure tobere-established

Thefollowing specific areas are

important:

ENGLISH HERIT GE Pa9e 5


54/71

~

~

itley ourt

ONSERV TION PL N Part

Significance

Northern

Parkland

Front Pool Park originallyformed the setting to the Cascade and Front

Pools as seenfrom

the

A443 andPoolHouse

Drive

but

itis

now

arable

landandsubject to extensive ploughing. In

the long-term repairs

and

restoration ofFront

Pool Park

would

be

of immediate

benefit to the setting

of Witley

Court

andits

north

front. The condition of the eastern

retaining

wallof the Cascade Pool is ofsome concern

Parklandto the north

of

theA443 is nowa mix

of

arable andpasture.

Nevertheless its

roundels of

parklandplanting

make

it

of

some

interest

as an

outer

witley court conservation management plan

Documents