Castle Howard, Ray Wood, Malton, North Yorkshire, England
Record Id: 3636
In 1699 George London was commissioned to draw up plans for the woodland to the east of Castle Howard. He proposed a star-shaped design made up of straight avenues running through the wood. This would have involved much destruction of the already-existing ancient woodland which dated back to the 16th century or earlier. The plan was rejected by Lord Carlisle in favour of a more naturalistic approach.
The garden started to take shape in 1705 with the creation of a labyrinth design using the existing woodland to create a wilderness which was also semi-architectural.
Between October 1706 and December 1710, masons began work on the boundary wall, seats, summerhouses and steps. They also worked on an array of fountains and pedestals for the statues of Apollo, the Flora Bacchus, Diana, the Satyr and Venus (Saumarez Smith, 1997: 124).
The garden became very popular with visitors during the 18th century. Most notable of these was the writer John Tracey Atkyns who visited the garden in 1732. He wrote one of the best accounts of how the garden looked at this time.
By the mid-18th century almost all of the above features had disappeared and little is known about what happened to them. The remains of stone plinths and the statue of Apollo, now located at the end of the Lime Walk, are the only surviving ornamental features.
During the 1850s William Andrews Nesfield rebuilt the reservoir, which already existed but was too small. Nesfield needed a much larger reservoir to supply the Atlas Fountain and the Prince of Wales Fountain (Conran, 1997: 68-69).
In the early 1940s Ray Wood was clear-felled and replanted with mixed hardwoods in 1946. Between 1968 and 1975 George Howard worked with James Russell to reinstate the original walkways. James Russell brought the Sunningdale Collection with him and work began on introducing new plant species to the site.
Site timeline
1699: George London's design is rejected.
1706 to 1710: Work begins on the wood creating the boundary wall, seats, statues and fountains.
1732: The garden is visited by John Tracey Atkyns.
1734 to 1767: Almost all the ornamental features had disappeared.
1850 to 1859: Nesfield creates a larger reservoir to supply both of his fountains in the park.
1940 to 1944: Ray Wood is clear felled.
1946: Ray Wood is replanted with mixed hardwoods.
1968: The Sunningdale Collection (Rhododendrons) are brought to Ray Wood by James Russell.
1975: The original walkways are reconstructed and further work is carried out on introducing new plant species to the wood.
People associated with this site
Writer: John Tracy Atkyns (died 23/07/1773)
Designer: George London (died 12/01/1714)
Designer: William Andrews Nesfield (born 1793 died 02/03/1881)
Sculptor: John van Nost the Younger (died 1780)
Designer: James Philip Cuming Russell (born 03/04/1920 died 28/04/1996)
Architect: Sir John Vanbrugh (born 24/01/1664 died 1726)
Features
garden ornament
Feature created: 1934 to 1999
Commonly known as the 'pyramid' this collection of stones is located in a central clearing within Ray Wood. The stones, which are loosely shaped into a pyramid, are thought to have been put together by gardeners who found them in the under-growth within this section of the wood.
They are almost certainly parts of the original ornamental features of the early 18th century but it is difficult to establish how accurate their reconstruction is.
water feature
Feature created: 1850 to 1859
The reservoir was built by Nesfield to supply the fountains that he created within the park.
It is located 300 metres north east of the house within the south west corner of the wood.
In the centre of the reservoir is a pedestal with carved aquatic creatures and plants on it. These are normally submerged beneath the water line but the top course is visible in summer when the water level drops.
Plantings
A collection of rhododendrons, hybrids, shrubs and tree species.
Planted: 1968 to 1975
© Copyright Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. 2007