Helmingham Park |
| Hob Uid: 388614 | |
Location :
Suffolk
Mid Suffolk
Helmingham
|
| Grid Ref : TM1821057600 |
| Summary : A deer park to Helmingham Hall, containing a moated and walled garden. The exact date for the foundation of the park are unclear. Some documentary evidence may possibly point to there already being a deer park on the Helmingham estate as early as 1406, however this is uncertain and a more likely date for emparkment may be the early to mid 16th century. The park was extended between 1585 and 1631 and again in the 18th and early 19th centuries, specifically in 1732, 1765, 1802 and 1815. The park contains a number of fine old oak trees and landscape features such as ponds and a viewing platform called The Mount, established by the mid 17th century. Once this was topped by a summer house, which was demolished in the 19th century and replaced by an obelisk. Documentary evidence of the walled kitchen garden being rebuilt in 1749 implies that some form of kitchen garden was already in existence there. The age of the garden moat is debateable, some sources argue that it pre-dates the house moat and may have been associated with an earlier, medieval house, but there are also good arguments that it was a 16th-17th "landscape" feature rather than a reused house moat. This garden has later alterations of the 19th and 20th centuries. There are also the remains of an 18th century Wilderness Garden. To the north-east of the hall is a herb and knot garden planted in 1982. |
More information : (TM 182578) Helmingham Park (NAT). (1)
Helmingham Park was a deer park from Elizabethan times. (2)
The park to Helmingham Hall is roughly triangular in shape and covers gently undulating land. It is partly bordered by belts of trees. Remains of partly removed earthworks may indicate extension of the park in the 18th century. The park contains a number of tree plantation features including Oak Grove to the North of the Hall. To the west of the Hall is The Mount: this is a man-made gras grown mound used as a viewing platform from the mid 17th century onward. It was once connected to the pleasure gardens by a walk of Hawthorn trees. It is surmounted by a brick obelisk, which was constructed in the mid 19th century using bricks from a summerhouse that previously was built atop the mound. At the foot of The Mount is a circular pool. To the south-east of the Hall is Double Oak Avenue (planted 1730). In this area there are also four fishponds, two of which are believed to be of possible medieval date. Associated with the hall are also gardens. The garden to the south-west of the hall includes a walled kitchen garden. The south-west garden is moated- these earthworks may predate the existing hall. To the north-east (of the hall are two late 20th century gardens planted in 1982. (3)
Additional reference (4)
Description of the gardens, with illustrations of the Hall, garden and moats. (5)
Description of the Tollemache family history and of the Hall with numerous illustrations (6-7)
Illustrations of walks and pond. (8)
Key original sources. (9-11)
A detailed investigation of the development of Helmingham Park. The article by Stephen Podd examines the unclear origins of the park, noting the field name name "parkmedwe" in a document of 1406, and offers further possible dates 1510-12 or 1530, when Lionel Tollemache was High Sherrif of Suffolk and may have wished to demonstrate this high status by the creation of a park. The article charts the further devlopment of the park, with a probable expansion of the park between 1585 and 1631, another major expansion in 1732, again in 1765 and lesser aquistions of land for the park in 1802 and 1815. Podd also notes a correction to some previous authorities which have stated that the walled kitchen garden was created in 1749: the original documentary evidence refers to a re-building; which indicates that some form of kitchen garden was there prior to 1749. (12)
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