Dumbleton Old Hall, Dumbleton, England

Undulations in the grounds give some impression of the garden layout shown in the Kip engraving that was published in 1712. There are a couple of large trees growing on the site.

The sketch plan given by J. C. L. Ellis-Marshall in the first edition of a pamphlet 'Lands called Dumbleton' is probably a misinterpretation of the Kip engraving, which was partially confirmed by a resistivity survey.

However, the 1822 sale map shows a north-south arm of the canal between the D-shaped pool and the house up to the northern canal. Though this feature is omitted from both the Kip engraving, and the Ellis-Marshall sketch, it probably existed in 1712. Thus Kip's engraving cannot be relied upon, and probably exaggerated the extent of the garden.

In 1712 Dumbleton Old Hall is across a carriage drive from the church. Its south front faces a park between twin tree avenues, of which no vestige remains.

The western elevation of the Old Hall fronts a parterre a l'Anglaise. Raised terraced walks about one metre above the parterres surrounded it. The furthest cross-raised terrace was an allee with a bower at its northern end.

The channel that fed the water supply is visible. The 1822 sale map indicates a pool about SP01253541, which may have been involved.

There is a central path that led to a D-shaped pool with a statue making an ornamental fountain. It was likely to have been gravity-fed using springs on Dumbleton Hill. It then flows under the raised terrace walk on the north side to a canal that linked to another canal along the northern side of the garden. At its eastern end it widens to provide a farmyard pool close to the stables. These are marked as fishpools on the schedule associated with the 1822 sale plan.

On the western side of the pool was a dovecote.

The canal on the southern side of the garden appears to been at a lower level. It lies alongside the potager below the southern raised walkway.

Beyond the western end of the garden Kip shows a plantation, while tree avenues line approaches from the south.

Maps

Ordnance Survey 25 inches per mile Gloucestershire XIII/6 1884, 1923

Ordnance Survey 6 inches per mile Gloucestershire XIII NW 1891

Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 1981

Sale Particulars 1822 GA SL163 & 198

Sale Particulars 1875 GA SL164,481

Road Changes 1830 GA Q/Srh/1830/D/2