A very attractive re-creation of a 17th century garden, following the same design principles and using 17th century plants where possible. The garden also forms the setting for the category A listed Haddington House.

Artistic Interest

Level of interest

High

St Mary's Pleasance has high value as a Work of Art in its present form.

Historical

Level of interest

Outstanding

St Mary's Pleasance has outstanding Historical value as there are physical remains of the 17th century garden walls and building, and the re-created garden provides an outstanding example of the 17th century style.

Horticultural

Level of interest

Outstanding

The plant collection in the garden has outstanding Horticultural value as it provides an interesting record of 17th century plant material.

Architectural

Level of interest

Outstanding

The garden has outstanding Architectural value as it provides the setting for category A & B listed buildings.

Archaeological

Level of interest

Not Assessed

Scenic

Level of interest

None

The Garden has no Scenic value as it is almost totally screened by its boundary walls.

Nature Conservation

Level of interest

Little

The Meadow Garden provides a little Nature Conservation value due to the variety of spring bulbs and wild flowers which have been planted in it and allowed to naturalise.

Haddington Garden is situated on the east side of Haddington House on Sidegate, where the A6137 passes through the town of Haddington. The house forms part of the western boundary of the site which is otherwise enclosed by a stone wall. St Mary's Church lies to the south of the garden and, to its west and north, is the town of Haddington. East of the garden, a doocot stands in 'Lady Kitty's garden' which was once part of nearby Elin House. Both the doocot and the Cathedral can be seen from within the garden but otherwise views out are restricted by the boundary walls. Views into the garden are limited to the four perfect slot views gained through the four entrances: on Sidegate; through the gate linking the Cathedral with the garden; through the one door giving access from the Sands and river walk; and the iron gate giving access from the car park.

Haddington House lies on the western boundary of the garden, which extends over some 4 acres (1.7ha) and is enclosed by walls on all sides. Documentary evidence is confined to the 1st edition OS map of c.1850 and the 2nd edition OS map c.1900. Comparison of these maps with modern editions confirms that the extent of garden has not changed since these surveys were made.

The garden was laid out between 1973-75 based on 17th century principles of garden design.

The garden site dates from the 17th or early 18th century and was the orchard associated with Haddington House. By 1972, it was in a derelict state and the late Duke of Hamilton donated the ground to the Haddington Garden Trust, a charitable organisation which he established to 'preserve the garden at Haddington House as an open public precinct and to develop it as an old Scottish Garden'. The Duke died in 1973 and the chairmanship of the Garden Trust was taken over by Sir George Taylor. It was Sir George who was chiefly responsible for the design of the garden, selecting the 17th century period for plant material, and modelling the sunken garden on the layout of the Queen's Garden at Kew, which he designed whilst Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens (1956-70). On completion of the garden in 1975, it was renamed St Mary's Pleasance.

Architectural Features

Haddington House, listed A, is a 17th century building that stands on Sidegate and forms part of the western boundary of the site. The garden walls and gatepiers of the entrances to the garden from both Lady Kitty's Garden and St Mary's Church are listed B. The Apple House, listed B, is incorporated into the north wall of the garden. It dates from the 17th century or early 18th century and was formerly a two-storey building with a pigeon loft incorporated into the upper storey. The building was restored by the Hamilton family in 1975 as a memorial to the late Duke, at which time the top storey of the building was removed.

The Gardens

A series of small gardens and features are incorporated within the garden walls. The Sunk Garden is situated where there was formerly a car park, adjacent to the east side of Haddington House, and is laid out as a knot garden. The box-edged compartments enclose a variety of low-lying species which were introduced by the 17th century including Santolina neapolitan, Chamaecyparissus, Primula, Auricula, Rembrandt tulips and several varieties of sedge. On the sloping banks bordering the sunken garden, plants also introduced in the 17th century are well established, among them Hypericum calycinum, Teucrium chamaedrys and Saponaria officinalis 'Flore plena'. From this garden, a footpath leads along the north wall which is clothed with, amongst others, Ficus carica (introduced 1636). Between the path and the wall, roses and a wide range of herbs are grown in raised beds. Seats and picnic tables are situated in recesses between the raised beds. The path leads to the Apple House, midway along the north wall, opposite which lies the Cottage Garden, enclosed by fragrant shrub roses. A gap in the rose hedge on the south side of the Cottage Garden leads to the Orchard where a few fruit trees which predated the present garden remain, interplanted with other varieties introduced in the 17th century. Her Majesty the Queen and Her Majesty the Queen Mother have planted specimen trees here. The east side of the Orchard is retained by a low wall, beyond which lies the Meadow Garden. Here, a variety of spring flowers and bulbs have been planted amongst the grass. At the south end of the meadow is the Mount, a raised conical feature which was typical of the 17th century period of garden design. A pathway spirals up the Mount to a viewpoint at the top from where a view is gained of the whole garden and townscape. Opposite the Mount, along the south side of the orchard is the Pleached Alley. It is formed of laburnum trees (Laburnum alpinum, introduced 1629), trained over arches forming a shady walk to St Mary's Gate at the entrance to the churchyard. At the west end of the Pleached Alley, the path turns north along the Hornbeam Avenue which returns to the Sunk Garden.

Sources

Printed Sources

Garden Guide Leaflet

Plan of the Sunk Garden by Sir George Taylor

G.A. Little, 1981

Groome's

Listings

NMRS, Photographs