The Hidden Gardens of Hill Close

Hill Close Gardens are without doubt one of the most fascinating gardens I have ever visited. Steeped in history, nearly lost forever and not at all well known - these gardens are absolutely charming and a treat to see.

Hill Close is a series of almost secret gardens, originally covering an area of five acres sandwiched between the ancient medieval walled town of Warwick and its racecourse.

Mr Wilson inherited the site in the 1840s and seeing the need for detached gardens which were once very common, he set about splitting the plot into a series of 32 gardens each with it's own hedgerow and lockable door.

These private gardens were perfect for those living in the town where most business and other premises only had a small yard alongside their business or house. Hill Close gardens, like now, were an escape from everyday life and somewhere to relax in a private space. People would use these detached gardens to grow fruit, flowers and vegetables or to just relax and enjoy some peace and quiet.

In the 1860s the whole site was sold to Mr Phillips who went on to sell the plots individually and this probably saved them from development in future years. Plots were passed down in the same family for generations but by the end of the Nineteenth Century there was demand for housing and some of the plots, at the outer edges of the site, had been sold and built on.

Between 1900 and 1910 half the orginal site had been developed and the Council began to buy plots as they became available. It took forty years, but eventually the Council owned the whole site. Permission was given for housing development and in 1993 bulldozers moved in.

Luckily a group of local residents realised how special the site was - not only the land, but also the derelict summerhouses which previous owners had built in many different styles. The residents grouped together to try and save the gardens from development and stop the bulldozers.

The heritage value of the gardens was recognised and a Trust was set up to secure the future of the gardens and to restore them. The Summerhouses and the Gardens are now Grade II Listed - recognised as being historically important, and protected, for future generations to come.

Work started to restore the gardens in earnest, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. The gardens were then opened to the public so that everyone can now enjoy and appreciate the social and gardening history of this very unique site.

The Trust has recreated plots as close to possible to their original layout and planting. Each plot has a number and plaque which gives a brief history behind who gardened there. It's fascinating to read the stories of people who were gardening at Hill Close many years ago and discover what influenced them, what their family and business life was like, and how this may have impacted on their own garden plot.

The gardens were used for pleasure as well as production and would have comprised lawns, ornamental beds, fruit, vegetables, garden ponds and often a summerhouse. As you wander through the plots at Hill Close today this is what you can expect to see. It's a place of community but also somewhere for privacy and a feeling of secrecy - each garden being completley unique and hidden from its neighbours.

The summerhouses were used to sit and admire the gardens but also store tools. Many had a fireplace to keep some warmth and perhaps a kettle to make drinks whilst some had stoves to cook a small meal. The site had gas supply too and so was lit after dark to extend the gardening day.

Plot owners obviously had a sense of pride and enjoyment in their own personal garden and many invested money making each plot unique to them. Not only were the summerhouses quite spectacular, with brick, chimneys and ornate tiles but plot owners also invested in steps, pathways and fancy edgings to their planting beds and paths.

The trust relies on a team of volunteers to help maintain the gardens. There are 80 volunteers at Hill Close altogether and just half of them are involved in the gardening. Each volunteer is usually allocated to one plot.

There is a huge selection of flowers and planting combinations in the gardens which gives plenty of inspiration to take away and try in your own gardening space. As you reach the final garden there is a large Victorian style greenhouse with coldframes and I was pleased to see a selection of plants for sale. These were not "bought in plants" but cuttings, division and propagation of the actual plants growing in the gardens today.

In early Autumn, when I visited, the purple Verbena bonariensis (Purpletop vervain) and Japanese anemone stood out in the border and looked striking against the left over seed heads of Alcea (Hollyhock).

There were a lot of Dahlias planted throughout the gardens as well as Cosmos, Geranium and Roses.

The gardens have had a huge social effect, not only in the past as you can discover by reading the plot plaques as you walk about the garden, but also in the present. These gardens are still giving daily pleasure and benefits to the volunteers who garden today.

Plot number 10 is looked after by Stella Carr, a well known artist, and you can easily see the influence of her art and creativity in the way that she tends to this garden plot today.

For other volunteers the gardens are a sanctuary where they can get away, connect with nature, tend to their plot and connect with others - perhaps just a chat with a visitor or fellow volunteer - social interaction that can make a huge difference to their day. It's a wonderful place which continues to give and impact on people and nature.

At one time there were many more detached gardens in the UK but most were lost to development. Many of these would have fruit trees which provided fruit, beautiful blossom and a shaded place to sit. Hill Close Gardens are no different and contain over 160 trees made up of 70 varieties.

The apples are ready from September time through to November each and comprise many Heritage varieties. Each year Hill Close Gardens holds an Event to celebrate these wonderful trees where you can sample the apples and find out more about the history.

I noticed Wyken Pippin an apple variety dating back to the 1700s, Warwickshire Drooper plum tree which is unusual as it can be eaten and cooked as well plus Blenheim Orange apple which also dates back a long time to 1740. These are just a handful of the many varities to see at Hill Close.

At the end of the gardens is the stunning greenhouse and plant sales. I treated myself to an eyecatching Symphyotrichum (Aster) which I'd seen in the borders whilst wandering through the different plots. Hill close also has over forty varieties of Chrysanthemum and holds part of the RHS National Dispersed Collection of Chrysanthemum.

I thoroughly recommend a visit to Hill Close. There is so much to see and learn about the past, the present as well as the social and architectural history.

Guineveres Garden | Garden Writer