Sheringham Park

Last updated

Sheringham Park
Sheringham Park 1.JPG
Sheringham Park. The rhododendron gardens
Norfolk UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sheringham Park within Norfolk
Location Sheringham, North Norfolk, East of England, Norfolk
Coordinates 52°55′48″N01°10′30″E / 52.93000°N 1.17500°E / 52.93000; 1.17500
EstablishedJuly 1812 (1812-07)
Owned byIn the care of the National Trust
Website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park/

Sheringham Park is a landscape park and gardens near the town of Sheringham, Norfolk, England. [1] The park surrounds Sheringham Hall, lying mostly to its south. The freehold of the hall is owned by the National Trust and is privately leased on a long leasehold. Visitors to this historic building must contact the leaseholder directly for an appointment. The plantations of Sheringham Park are in the care of the National Trust and open to visitors. National Trust members and guests have no rights of access across the park and farmland surrounding Sheringham Hall. Access to these areas is solely at the discretion of George Youngs (Farms) Ltd which farms the Sheringham estate, as laid out in the 1953 agreement between that farming company and the then freeholder. Access to the plantations of Sheringham Park has become an important aspect to locals of Sheringham and visitors alike and reference to this can be found in the Domesday Book, page 56.[ citation needed ]

Contents

The park was designed by Humphry Repton (1752–1818) who presented his proposals in July 1812 in the form of one of his Red Books. [2] He described Sheringham as his "favourite and darling child in Norfolk". Abbot and Charlotte Upcher bought the estate in 1811, and successive generations of the Upcher family did much to develop the estate, the hall and the park, as well as building a school.

There are fine mature woodlands and a large variety of rhododendrons and azaleas. In the early 20th century, Henry Morris Upcher obtained rhododendron seeds of various types from plantsman Ernest "Chinese" Wilson. Plants from this source which can found at the garden include Rhododendron ambiguum, calophytum and decorum, among others. [3] Many other species of tree and shrub are represented in the garden, including fifteen kinds of magnolia, large specimen pieris. Among the other trees are maples, acers, styrax, eucryphia, pocket handkerchief tree davidia involucrata and a fine example of the snowdrop tree. Several overlook towers provide good views over the plantations, and of the nearby coast and surrounding countryside. A garden temple was constructed in the park in 1975 to the designs of James Fletcher-Watson. [4]

Location

Sheringham Park is located 2 miles south west of the coastal town of Sheringham, 5 miles west of Cromer and 6 miles east of Holt. The main entrance is at the junction of the A148 Cromer to Holt road and the B1157 road to Upper Sheringham. The Norfolk Coast Path passes through the property. A car park, cafe and visitor centre are near the main entrance. Waymarked paths through the estate link the gardens and visitors centre to the coast, and to the Weybourne station on the North Norfolk Railway, a preserved steam railway. Pedestrian access to the park is from the village of Upper Sheringham, which is adjacent to the park.[ citation needed ]

Visitor centre

The visitor centre is located within Wood Farm Barn at the southern end of the park, the barn also houses an exhibition of the history and the wildlife of Sheringham Park. Together with a reception desk and information kiosk. From the reception there are hearing loops available. Wheelchairs and powered mobility vehicles available at no charge although it is necessary to take a small test before use. The refreshment kiosk is also at Wood Farm Barn.[ citation needed ]

The exhibition area explores the life and work of the landscape architect Humphry Repton and also of the Upcher family who owned the park. There are several examples of Humphry Repton's red book of plans for the designs of the park. Part of the exhibition area has an area dedicated to the wildlife and nature of the park with identification games and interactive displays.[ citation needed ]

Volunteers

The park has a group of regular volunteers who help the garden staff with their duties. Under the guidance of the head gardener they undertake tasks such as pruning trees and other tasks, and generally keeping the park in a condition fit for visitors.[ citation needed ]

Sheringham Hall

Sheringham Hall Sheringham Park.jpg
Sheringham Hall

The Regency, Grade II listed building is finished in grey, gault, Lincolnshire brick was designed and built by Humphry Repton and his architect son, John Adey Repton. Due to the Norfolk coast's glacial winds, Repton chose a south facing site in the lee of a wooded hillside. In July 1813 the Upcher family laid the foundation stone and the family hoped to move into the house in the summer of 1817, but the owner of the estate Abbot Upcher fell ill and died in 1819 at the age of 35. The hall remained empty for 20 years until Henry Ramey Upcher completed the house in 1839. [3]

The hall's lease was offered for sale in 2008 and the lease was further extended at that time. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheringham</span> Seaside town in Norfolk, England

Sheringham is a seaside town and civil parish in the county of Norfolk, England. The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoveton</span> Human settlement in England

Hoveton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located within the Norfolk Broads, and immediately across the River Bure from the village of Wroxham. Whilst Hoveton is north of the river, Wroxham is south; but many people refer to the whole settlement as "Wroxham".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calke Abbey</span> Grade I listed country house in England

Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed country house near Ticknall, Derbyshire, England, in the care of the charitable National Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blickling Hall</span> Stately home in Blickling, Norfolk

Blickling Hall is a Jacobean stately home situated in 5,000 acres of parkland in a loop of the River Bure, near the village of Blickling north of Aylsham in Norfolk, England. The mansion was built on the ruins of a Tudor building for Sir Henry Hobart from 1616 and designed by Robert Lyminge. The library at Blickling Hall contains one of the most historically significant collections of manuscripts and books in England, containing an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 volumes. The core collection was formed by Sir Richard Ellys. The property passed into the care of the National Trust in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capability Brown</span> English landscape architect

Lancelot Brown, more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English gardener and landscape architect, who remains the most famous figure in the history of the English landscape garden style. He is remembered as "the last of the great English 18th-century artists to be accorded his due" and "England's greatest gardener".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humphry Repton</span> British landscape designer

Humphry Repton was the last great designer of the classic phase of the English landscape garden, often regarded as the successor to Capability Brown. His style is thought of as the precursor of the more intricate and eclectic styles of the 19th century. His first name is often incorrectly spelt "Humphrey".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wimpole Estate</span> Country estate near Cambridge, England

Wimpole Estate is a large estate containing Wimpole Hall, a country house located within the civil parish of Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, England, about 8+12 miles southwest of Cambridge. The house, begun in 1640, and its 3,000 acres (12 km2) of parkland and farmland are owned by the National Trust. The estate is regularly open to the public and received over 335,000 visitors in 2019. Wimpole is the largest house in Cambridgeshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheffield Park and Garden</span> National Trust owned landscape garden in East Sussex, England

Sheffield Park and Garden is an informal landscape garden five miles east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex, England. It was originally laid out in the 18th century by Capability Brown, and further developed as a woodland garden in the early 20th century by its then owner, Arthur Gilstrap Soames. It is now owned by the National Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beeston Regis</span> Village in Norfolk, England

Beeston Regis is a village and civil parish in the North Norfolk district of Norfolk, England. It is about a mile (2 km) east of Sheringham, Norfolk and near the coast. The village is 2 miles (3 km) west of Cromer and 16 miles (26 km) north of the city of Norwich. According to the 2011 census, it had a population of 1,062. There is a frequent bus service on the coast road A149 and a rail service from the nearby stations of Sheringham to the west and West Runton to the east, where the Bittern Line runs a frequent service between Norwich, Cromer and Sheringham. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stody</span> Human settlement in England

Stody is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is 13.2 miles (21.2 km) west south west of Cromer, 21.8 miles (35.1 km) north north west of Norwich and 125 miles (201 km) north north east of London. The village lies 4.1 miles (6.6 km) south west of the town of Holt. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A149 road</span> Road in Norfolk, linking Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth

The A149 is commonly known as "The Coast Road" to local residents and tourists, as this road runs along the North Norfolk coast from King's Lynn to Great Yarmouth, via coastal villages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matlaske</span> Human settlement in England

Matlaske is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is 21.6 miles (34.8 km) North-north-west of Norwich, 9.3 miles (15.0 km) south-west of Cromer and 136 miles (219 km) north-north-east of London. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport. The parish of Matlask in the 2001 census, a population of 124, increasing to 139 at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wickmere</span> Human settlement in England

Wickmere is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, 18.9 miles (30.4 km) north of Norwich, 7.3 miles (11.7 km) south-southwest of Cromer and 132 miles (212 km) northeast of London. The nearest railway station is at Gunton for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport. In the 2001 census it had a population of 125, which increased to 158 at the 2011 census. For the purposes of local government, the it falls within the district of North Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarrow Beck</span> River in England

Scarrow Beck is a minor watercourse which rises in the north of the English county of Norfolk. It is a tributary of the River Bure. Its spring is in the North Norfolk village of Aylmerton west of the main street. It eventually merges, after 7.7 miles (12.4 km) with the River Bure at Ingworth just north of the Blickling Hall estate. There are two watermills on the beck, both of which are no longer in working order. A third windmill at Gresham stands on Gur Beck, a small tributary of Scarrow Beck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheringham Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the East coast of England

Sheringham Lifeboat Station is an RNLI operated lifeboat station located in the town of Sheringham in the English county of Norfolk. Since 1992, the station has been inshore operations only - currently with an Atlantic 85 rigid inflatable - offshore lifeboats are to the east at Cromer and the west at Wells-next-the-sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catton Park, Norwich</span> Public park in Norfolk, England

Catton Park is a Grade 2 listed public park located in the village of Old Catton some 2 miles (3.2 km) north of central Norwich. The park covers 70 acres (28 ha) and was landscape gardener Humphry Repton's first commission. Adjacent, but outside the boundary of the present today park are two open spaces; the War Memorial Deer Park at Spixworth Road and the Buttercup Meadow at the junction of Oak Lane and Spixworth Road. Both were historically part of Catton Park and together with Catton Hall form part of the Old Catton conservation area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheringham Hall</span> Historic house in Sheringham, England

Sheringham Hall is a Grade II* listed building which stands in the grounds of its park. The house is close to the village of Upper Sheringham in the English County of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. The hall was built on the instructions of Abbot and Charlotte Upcher who engaged the architect and landscape designer Humphry Repton and his son John Adey Repton to build the house and to present designs for the surrounding parkland. Humphry worked on the landscape and John Adey designed the hall. National Trust members and guests have no rights of access across the park and farmland surrounding Sheringham Hall. Access is solely at the discretion of the owners of George Youngs (Farms) Ltd which farms the Sheringham estate. George Youngs (Farms) Ltd is owned by Paul Doyle and Gergely Battha-Pajor who also own the long leasehold of Sheringham Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honing Hall</span> Historic house in North Walsham, England

Honing Hall is a Grade II* listed building which stands in a small estate close to the village of Honing in the English county of Norfolk within the United Kingdom. It was built in 1748 for a wealthy Worstead weaver called Andrew Chamber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felbrigg Woods</span> UK Site of Special Scientific Interest

Felbrigg Woods is a 164.6-hectare (407-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south-west of Cromer in Norfolk. It is the main part of the grounds of Felbrigg Hall, a National Trust property which is listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2, and it is in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

References

  1. Ordnance Survey (2002). OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East. ISBN   0-319-21888-0.
  2. Landscapes of Taste: The Art of Humphry Repton's Red Books (Classical Tradition in Architecture) (Hardcover) ISBN   0-415-41503-9
  3. 1 2 Zealand. K. National Trust Sheringham Park guide (1998) Retrieved 25 November 2008
  4. Gray, Tracey (17 February 2011). "Rhododendrons blooming early in Sheringham Park". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  5. "Sheringham Hall's lease up for sale". Country Life. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

Further reading