The Gardens of Chevening House

The Chevening Estate is now owned by a private, self-funding trust, which under the Chevening Estate Act provides a furnished country residence for the Prime Minister’s nominee, normally the Foreign Secretary.

The pleasure grounds of the Earls Stanhope at Chevening House comprise lawns, wooded walks and wildflower meadows around an ornamental lake. First laid out between 1690 and 1720 in the French style, in the 1770s a less formal English design was introduced. In the early nineteenth century lawns, parterres and a maze were established, a lake was created from the ornamental canal and basin, and many specimen trees were planted to shade woodland walks. The gardens are gradually being restored following a plan by Elizabeth Banks, developed by George Carter, to reflect and preserve key aspects of their evolution over the last three centuries.

The Tour will be led by an expert in historic landscapes and garden design who has excellent knowledge and understanding of the Gardens and their history including the current renovation project. At the end of the Tour, you can enjoy afternoon tea, sandwiches and cake.

Garden tour with afternoon tea.

Images © Chevening Trust

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