Glenfall House, (also known as Gutterfall), Charlton Kings, England

The terrace walls are very slightly inclined and have great square vertical pillars every 4.5 meters (15 feet) along their length.

From the flagged west terrace by the house, steps descend to a lawn, once used as a tennis court, and this terrace has a double flight of angled steps down a drop of 2.3 meters (7 feet, 6 inches) to the rose garden. Within the arms of the steps is an ornamental pool with shelled fountain in its back wall and an arched recess with a keystone similar in design to that of the grotto, but with a drip stone rather than a dated plaque.

Unfortunately, the rose garden lost its symmetry by the introduction of a hard tennis court in 1935 (confirmed by Lawrence Mitchell). The tennis court has a pergola of wisteria along the length of the terrace walling, with square pillars coinciding with those in the wall but smaller in cross section. The wooden beams which span the walkway are inadequate and the size of the original beams can be appreciated from the cavities on the pillars and in the wall. It is along the length of this pergola that the surprise of the grotto suddenly appears, and beyond the walkway is a quiet lawn canopied by a central cedar planted around 1872. Over the walls, at either end of the terrace, ridge and furrowed meadow, Home Ground and White Fields slope away to the Ham Brook. The ridges have probably survived because of ancient oaks and chestnuts that have handicapped modern ploughing.

Returning to the rose garden at the North end of the terrace there is a paved area which used to be capped by Laburnum - according to Lawrence Mitchell - and from a seat in this position a view of the cedar could have been reflected in water, if this had been the intention, before the tennis court was constructed.

The water garden is made secluded by great arms of yew hedging which have over grown themselves and their domed features have become more conical. They now block vistas, one from the seat looking south to the cedar and the other from the house looking west down the flights of steps. It is possible that two more domed sections were intended to completely frame the water garden where these two vistas cross.

The third terrace is only 5.5 meters (18 feet) wide. At one time it had circular beds dotted along its length but it could have been designed for more ambitious planting or possibly for archery. From this narrow terrace semi-circular steps lead down to the orchard. A pair of blue cedars grace the area (planted around 1872) and two weeping willows of comparable age are becoming wind damaged. On the north side of these is a gate leading out into the meadow and a ha-ha completely surrounds the orchard.

A balanced view of the house is seen from the orchard. Trees have matured and screen the lawns on the south side where probably the Willis family extended the garden as shown by differences in the OS map of 1882 and 1921. Two paths lead up through a belt of Holly, Holm Oak and Lime and pockets of natural rocks shelter Rhododendron, Pieris, Hepatica and Cyclamen (a surprise within the Cotswold limestone). At the level of the Western lawn a Deodar, planted about 1866, is a focal point within a slight dell, and its interesting asymmetric branch helps to encompass the dell. On the south lawn a Liriodendron and more Limes give shelter to what must have been an even more secluded area when another great cedar was alive - only its severed trunk remains.

The south lawn is seen from the morning room and the large dining room which was once a ballroom and has a sprung floor. Its central door opens onto a paved terrace of modern stone and the original Cotswold stone semi-circular steps lead up to a sloping lawn. Three island beds of herbaceous plants are backed by a great yew hedge to the east and a holly hedge to the south and casually planted ornamental trees add to the interest and informality of this sloping land.

The kitchen garden is beyond the yew hedge to the east. It is completely askew and on the same slope as the south lawn. Beds have been cut askew giving a sense of symmetry within the enclosure. The brick wall to the east has courses parallel to the gradient of the hill rather than horizontal ones that are a sign of its age.

The driveway up to Glenfall House from its octagonal Regency Lodge, is through an avenue of stately small leafed limes, oaks and fern leafed beech. The drive then crosses directly over the Waterfall in the Glen, between coppices both up and down stream belonging to the local farmer. A dogleg in the drive beyond hides the house from view apart from glimpses of the north face between, a line of great boundary oaks, one planted around 1662. Amongst the shrubs up the drive are several rhododendrons possibly bedded in soil washed free of its lime by continued rainfall.

Plans

29/05/1890 & 14/05/1908 Particulars Auction of Estate on 29/05/1931 with Map and 14/05/1908 without map Gloucestershire Archives in D4858/3/1/1

23/03/1931 Particulars of Auction of Glenfall Farm Gloucestershire Archives in D2299/22157

Pictures

1826 View of Glenfall Cottage S Y Griffith, New Historical Description of Cheltenham Page 96

1830 View of the waterfall at Glenfall Henry Lamb, Views of Cheltenham and its Vicinity Drawn from Nature on Stone Selected Prints in Cheltenham Library basement

1844 View of the waterfall at Glenfall James Buckman, A Botanical Guide to the Environs of Cheltenham Frontspiece obtain from Local Studies Library in Cheltenham

1908 Includes photographs of waterfall, lodge, drive and house 14/05/1908 Estate Sale Particulars Gloucestershire Archives in D4858/3/1/1

April-June 1987 Photographs of Conservatory prior to Demolition In Cheltenham Borough Council's Listed Building Consent Gloucestershire Archives K/884/1/26 860/1