A Georgian Estate

Hotham Hall, a beautiful Georgian Grade II* listed house was a lost treasure that had fallen into disrepair. A dilapidated pond, sinuous yew hedge, and some fine old trees were the remnants of gardens past, none of which had ever lived up to the beauty of the hall or site.

Purcell Architects were called in oversee the restoration of the house and interior architecture: and our brief was to transform the largely blank space outside the hall into a garden of ‘high-octane glamour’ that worked as both a private sanctuary for our client, and a memorable and highly photogenic event space for luxury weddings and other events – Hotham Hall Estate.

Dating from the 1720’s, the landscape design period of the house falls between the Picturesque and the Formal. The design reflects these styles in formal spaces near the house, leading to more curvaceous elements in the wider landscape – with eyecatchers and pause points.

The formal design area features the North Courtyard, and South Gardens, which look across parkland. The final sketch shown here is an original concept plan for the gardens, which featured an ‘eternity water garden’ and alternative layout of the South Gardens, which have evolved to the built scheme.

Photographs by Kit Peel Gardens, Nik Pickard