Shaw House historic gate restoration and Tudor knot garden plans

Work has been taking place over the last few months to restore the historic gates at Shaw House which were destroyed in an unfortunate incident last year. This has included repairing the original iron gates and rebuilding the brick pillars and decorative stone tops. 

The gates were originally installed in 1908 by the Honourable Mrs Farquhar who had them moved to Church Road from the edge of the estate, while making improvements to the grounds.

We're sure that Mrs Farquhar would have approved of the restoration of the gates and be delighted to hear of our plans to create a new Tudor Garden on the front lawns of the House, with thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The garden will be created using a mix of low maintenance hedging, shrubs and herbs to create a symmetrical design in the style of a Tudor knot garden. 

Knot gardens were first created in the 1550s, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, but originated from medieval kitchen gardens where medicinal and cooking herbs were divided into separate beds to prevent confusion. The gardens were formed into intricate patterns to resemble woven knots or interlocking geometric shapes designed to be viewed from an upstairs window.

Work on the Shaw House knot garden is due to take place during the winter months ready for opening in Spring 2025.