Batemans, (also known as Lane Bridge), East Sussex, England

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

A 20th century compartmentalised garden, largely laid out by Rudyard Kipling between 1902 and his death in 1936.

DESCRIPTION

LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING

Bateman's lies about 0.6 kilometres down Bateman's Lane which runs due south from the main A265 road from Burwash Common to Burwash. The centre of Burwash village lies about 1 kilometre due north-east of the site. The registered site, which comprises about 1.8 hectares of gardens, is bounded along its entire north-east side by Bateman's Lane and is enclosed from view by high brick walls and yew hedges. The River Dudwell forms the boundary in the south-east corner. Iron park paling defines the south-west boundary while to the north-west, open grass banks and the visitors' car park abut the site. Except for the extreme north-west garden enclosure, which follows the upward slope of the valley side, the site sits on the level floor of the narrow Dudwell valley, on the north side of the river. The valley sides rise quite steeply on both sides of the river, on the north side to the Wealden ridge carrying the A265 and on the south side to thickly wooded crests and the view to 'Pook's Hill'.

REFERENCES

Country Life, 24 (15 August 1908), pp 224-233; 79 (25 January 1936), pp 90-95

Victoria History of the County of Sussex IX, (1937), p 195

I Nairn and N Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Sussex (1965), p 464

G S Thomas, Gardens of the National Trust (1979), pp 101-102

Bateman's, guidebook, (National Trust 1996)

Maps

OS 6" to 1 mile: 2nd edition published 1900

    3rd edition published 1910

OS 25" to 1 mile: 1st edition published 1875

    2nd edition published 1909

Description written: July 1998

Edited: February 2000