Both created at the same time in the early 18th century by some of the same craftsmen, these two Yorkshire sites have seen centuries of change and challenge before coming into the care of the National Trust.
Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley was conceived as a grand expression of aristocratic pride and taste. The remains of this vision sit at the core of the site, overlaid with important 19th and 20th century influences. The contemporary Beningbrough Hall near York was the creation of a wealthy young gentry couple hoping to consolidate and enhance their family status. The remarkable preservation of their house stands in contrast to the much-altered garden and parkland.
Most recently, both sites have shifted from being private spaces to thriving public assets. Hear how has this developed and how the contemporary National Trust is working at these places to further enhance their social benefit alongside ensuring the care and conservation of nationally significant heritage assets?

The period 2016 to 2019 saw the complete restoration of the substantial early 20th century Rock Garden at Burnby Hall Gardens. Originally created for the owners of Burnby Hall, Major Percy and Mrs Katharine Stewart, by James Backhouse and Son of York, a substantial Heritage Lottery Fund grant supported the transformation of this unique location. This illustrated lecture featured a brief history of the Stewarts and details the extensive work that has been undertaken to restore the Rock Garden, including obtaining the funding, the challenges that were overcome, and its ongoing maintenance.
 

Bramham Park was created by Robert Benson, Lord Bingley at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century, as a residence and landscape to demonstrate the status he had risen to as Chancellor of the Exchequer and a Director of the South Sea Company. In the three following centuries a combination of irresponsible illegitimate children, gambling debts, a disastrous fire, two world wars, inheritance taxes and a hurricane-force gale meant that Benson’s design has never been substantially changed. This makes Bramham a rare survival of the period between baroque formality and the Landscape Movement, showing the development from one to the other.
Since the gale in 1962, Benson’s descendants have sought to restore Bramham to its original condition and the current owner, Nick Lane Fox recounted his efforts, since taking over from his father in 1997.

Our first event of 2024 was a morning visit to Devonshire Mill, Pocklington to enjoy snowdrops in the 2 acre garden of Chris and Sue Bond - followed by tea and coffee and scones. 

YGT members enjoyed an introductory talk covering the history of the site and a guided tour of the gardens and pleasure grounds.

Our visit included an in-depth summary of the history of the site followed by an extensive garden tour. Despite heavy rain features of interest including the newly-restored Target Garden, the Alpine Bed, The Grotto/Quarry Garden, a Summerhouse and eyecatcher were viewed.

YGT exhibited at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, which provided an ideal opportunity to meet existing members and talk to a number of prospective new members.

Our Summer Picnic was held at Jervaulx Hall, near East Witton in North Yorkshire with kind permission of Mr and Mrs Phillip Woodrow.

The eight-acre garden is full of interest with colourful borders, a glasshouse, a small vegetable garden, the renovated abbey mill, magnificent mature trees as well as wooded hills with views to the north and the river Ure. To the south the garden adjoins the privately owned ruins of Jervaulx Abbey, which will be open for us from the garden. 

Head Gardener Dave Petherbridge gave an introductory talk and took us on a tour of the garden after refreshments 

This two-part event began with a morning visit to the North Yorkshire County Record Office in Northallerton for an introductory talk by Moira Fulton and an opportunity to view a selection of historic estate plans of Newburgh dating to the 17th- and 18th-centuries. This was followed in the afternoon, by a visit to the grounds of Newburgh Priory led by Moira.