Described as ‘a jewel in Yorkshire’s crown’, Burnby Hall Gardens are situated at the centre of Pocklington.
The upper and lower lakes are set within nine acres of woodland and gardens. The gardens hold a National Collection of around 80 varieties of hardy water lily.
Spectacular rock garden designed by Backhouses of York.
At the far end of the garden is a stumpery. Made popular during the Victorian period, the stumpery is created using upturned tree stumps and logs and is planted with ferns and other shade-loving plants.
Also look out for an ornamental bridge, a contemporary walled garden and an aviary garden.
The Secret Garden was designed by students from the nearby Bishop Burton College.
The gardens have won the Yorkshire in Bloom Gold Award.
RHS Members visit for free from 5th January – 31st March.
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In 1901, Burnby Hall was bought by Percy and Katherine Stewart from the Powell family. William Powell had made his money from producing the hugely popular Yorkshire Relish. In 1885, eight million bottles of the relish were sold each week.
Katherine Powell was heiress to the Priestman fortune. Her family was one of the main colliery owners in the north-east of England.
In 1904, work started on the garden. The Upper Water was originally created as a fishing lake with a smaller Lower Water added in 1910. In 1935, Major Stewart commissioned Amos Perry to plant 50 varieties of hardy water lily.
The rock garden was designed by Backhouses of York. James Backhouse and his son, also called James were fascinated by alpine plants and botanised together in Teesdale, the highlands and around Europe. In 1890, their nursery had 40 greenhouses, an underground fernery and a rockery. An American visitor wrote: ‘Nowhere, not even at Kew, is there so rich a collection of filmy ferns.’ Following fierce competition, the family were forced to sell much of their land in 1921 and the firm closed in 1955.
Between 1906 and 1926, Percy and Katherine Stewart travelled around the world. They brought back numerous artefacts including a red wood tree building from the Seattle Exhibition of 1909. The remains of it can still be seen in the garden.
After the stock market crash of 1926 and Katherine Stewart’s death in 1939, Percy Stewart sold off much of the land.
With no children, the Stewarts left their estate in trust to the people of Pocklington.
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