Barton St. Mary, East Grinstead, England
Record Id: 6792
The house dates from 1906 and was designed by Edwin Lutyens for the shipping magnate, Sir G. Munro Miller*. Its whitewashed and tile-hung walls, deep gables and tall chimneys are typical of Lutyens' English vernacular style. The gardens were designed by Gertrude Jekyll in 1907.
Its later changes of ownership prior to 1939 are uncertain, but it is recorded that both the house and gardens suffered from a period of neglect during World War 2 when it was used as a school. After the war it was bought by Matilda Marks of the retailing family. Miss Marks later married Terence Kennedy and together they made a number of changes to both the interior and exterior of the house. Subsequently the house has passed through further owners' hands.
Site timeline
1939 to 1945: It is recorded that both the house and gardens suffered from a period of neglect during World War 2 when it was used as a school.
After 1945: After the war it was bought by Matilda Marks of the retailing family. Miss Marks later married Terence Kennedy and together they made a number of changes to both the interior and exterior of the house.
1987: Many trees were affected by the great storm of 1987.
People associated with this site
Designer: Gertrude Jekyll (born 29/11/1843 died 08/12/1932)
Architect: Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens (born 29/03/1869 died 01/01/1944)
Features
greenhouse
Feature created: After 1907
arbour
Feature created: After 1907
The central focal point of the kitchen garden was an arbour with stone columns linked by iron hoops and clad with roses.
lawn
To the west of the house a broad level lawn fringed by trees was laid.
path
A geometrical pattern of gravel paths has been laid on the level lawn.
topiary
Yew tree topiary has been introduced across the lawns.
pool
An ornamental pool has been added to the forecourt
steps
At some time, central steps have been added to the terraces.
avenue
Jekyll planted an avenue of triple rows of fruit trees - apples, pears, medlars, quinces and crabs. These suffered in the storm of 1987 but since have been replanted.
gatehouse
Feature created: After 1906
Lutyens marked the property’s entrance drive with a pair of imposing two-storey gatehouses.
planting
Feature created: After 1907
Jekyll lined the drive to the house with successive bold plantings of shrubs - laurel, broom, forsythia and weigela, followed by groups of evergreen oaks. Unfortunately, some of these trees were blown down in the great storm of 1987.
courtyard
Feature created: After 1907
The drive culminated in a gravelled forecourt bounded by dry retaining walls of local stone planted with outcrops of ferns, pinks and aubrieta before leading on to a sunken courtyard situated at the front of the house.
terrace
Feature created: After 1907
Jekyll designed a raised terrace garden with two levels of flower beds all bordered with Stachys lanata. The terraces have dry stone retaining walls clad with roses.
kitchen garden
There was a formal kitchen garden enclosed by yew hedges and containing symmetrical vegetable plots edged with deep flower beds and espaliers.
fishpond
Plantings
Adjacent to the avenue Jekyll created a pair of long herbaceous borders. The herbaceous planting has disappeared completely, and planting plans do not survive.
Planted: After 1907
© Copyright Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. 2007