Yorkshire Dales National Park
Note that this is on Historic England's Register of Buildings (No 1131982) - https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1131982
The rockery was commissioned by Frank Sayer-Graham who owned the cottage opposite. The firm of Backhouse and Son from York, was brought in to design and build it with construction beginning in 1906. The rockery is a rare surviving example of a 'walk through grotto' type. Sayer-Graham may also have had advice from the famous alpine specialist and plant hunter, Reginald Farrer.
The rock garden was built from massive blocks of waterworn limestone that were transported there from a nearby location. The blocks rise to about 8 metres in places with narrow winding paths through giving the grotto effect. The rocks have many planting pockets providing a variety of micro-climates. These allowed the garden to be planted with a variety of specimens of alpines and ferns that may have been supplied from the Backhouse nurseries. There was also a mountain stream and cascade which add to the alpine atmosphere. It was listed in 1988 after a period of neglect and was restored in 2002 by its new owners.
For a full history of the site see Rosemary Anderson's book Aysgarth Edwardian Rock Garden, A Story of Creation and Re-creation published by Rosemary Anderson in 2014
