The half-acre Walled Garden, dating from at least the 1790s, is Parc Yr Esgob-Bishop’s Park’s best kept secret. In fact, it is still known to many as the ‘secret’ garden, tucked away at the western side of the Park. Although it’s currently closed to public, we have a great vision to restore it so that it can live again, rediscovering its place at the very centre of Parc Yr Esgob-Bishop’s Park.
Once the heart of the estate, the Walled Garden was one of three sites producing fruit and vegetables throughout the season for the household, from the 18th Century right up to the 1970s. Originally the stable block was located directly to the east of the garden, until it was moved in the early to mid-1800s to its current location nearer the road. This was essential for producing food at that time, as all of the lovely horse manure didn’t have far to travel to condition the soil and feed the plants. We are today the grateful inheritors of generations of this careful management!
Changes over time…
Over the years lots of changes have occurred within these four walls, many of which have left their traces on the ground. We know that an orangery once stood along the northern wall, perfectly placed to capture the sun as it travelled over the valley; the faint whitewash on the wall is the only evidence it was ever there. The remains of three other Victorian glasshouses are still visible too, clearly showing their heating pipes, giving a tempting window onto the past, leaving us to imagine what was once being grown within them.
Estate Map of 1811
As part of the archaeological study of the site in 2017 the consultants also looked in detail at historic maps showing the garden, which help us read the changes over time. Read more about what they found, or watch the film made during the investigation. below.
Gwenonwy’s memoirs
Other records we have include the memoir of Gwenonwy Owen (held at the National Library of Wales), daughter of Bishop John Owen who lived at the palace one hundred years ago. Oranges and tropical orchids were a feature in their day, and many of the apple and pear trees in the orchard almost certainly date from that time too. Read Gwenonwy’s recollections of the Park.
Since 2018 the Trust has been working with volunteers on clearing rubbish and scrub, planting new fruit trees, and attempting to make the Walled Garden a useable, productive space once again. We will in the short term continue to raise fruit and vegetables for our café, and use the space for our educational programme when we can, working with school groups and others on journeys of discovery and sustainable food growing.
We hope too to be in a position to open the garden more generally to the public one day. Until then, keep your eyes on our events calendar, as we do occasionally open the door for visitors to get a glimpse inside, to step back in time and connect with a living past.
See inside the walled garden…
The walled garden is closed at present while we formulate our plans and funding to restore and open it to visitors. For the time being you can visit it by booking on a tour of the Park or when it’s open as part of our events programme. Find out What’s On.
Our volunteers regularly work in the walled garden so if you want to experience this amazing space close up – join us as a volunteer!
Walled Garden
The half-acre Walled Garden, dating from at least the 1790s, is Parc Yr Esgob-Bishop’s Park’s best kept secret. In fact, it is still known to many as the ‘secret’ garden, tucked away at the western side of the Park. Although it’s currently closed to public, we have a great vision to restore it so that it can live again, rediscovering its place at the very centre of Parc Yr Esgob-Bishop’s Park.
Once the heart of the estate, the Walled Garden was one of three sites producing fruit and vegetables throughout the season for the household, from the 18th Century right up to the 1970s. Originally the stable block was located directly to the east of the garden, until it was moved in the early to mid-1800s to its current location nearer the road. This was essential for producing food at that time, as all of the lovely horse manure didn’t have far to travel to condition the soil and feed the plants. We are today the grateful inheritors of generations of this careful management!
Changes over time…
Over the years lots of changes have occurred within these four walls, many of which have left their traces on the ground. We know that an orangery once stood along the northern wall, perfectly placed to capture the sun as it travelled over the valley; the faint whitewash on the wall is the only evidence it was ever there. The remains of three other Victorian glasshouses are still visible too, clearly showing their heating pipes, giving a tempting window onto the past, leaving us to imagine what was once being grown within them.
As part of the archaeological study of the site in 2017 the consultants also looked in detail at historic maps showing the garden, which help us read the changes over time. Read more about what they found, or watch the film made during the investigation. below.
Gwenonwy’s memoirs
Other records we have include the memoir of Gwenonwy Owen (held at the National Library of Wales), daughter of Bishop John Owen who lived at the palace one hundred years ago. Oranges and tropical orchids were a feature in their day, and many of the apple and pear trees in the orchard almost certainly date from that time too. Read Gwenonwy’s recollections of the Park.
Since 2018 the Trust has been working with volunteers on clearing rubbish and scrub, planting new fruit trees, and attempting to make the Walled Garden a useable, productive space once again. We will in the short term continue to raise fruit and vegetables for our café, and use the space for our educational programme when we can, working with school groups and others on journeys of discovery and sustainable food growing.
We hope too to be in a position to open the garden more generally to the public one day. Until then, keep your eyes on our events calendar, as we do occasionally open the door for visitors to get a glimpse inside, to step back in time and connect with a living past.
See inside the walled garden…
The walled garden is closed at present while we formulate our plans and funding to restore and open it to visitors. For the time being you can visit it by booking on a tour of the Park or when it’s open as part of our events programme. Find out What’s On.
Our volunteers regularly work in the walled garden so if you want to experience this amazing space close up – join us as a volunteer!