The Garden Charity – To Present Day

1965 to date

A Fascinating History of Discovery

Our Timeline: 1965 to date

1965
1965
Lupins in Rose Garden area in the 1960's

Sir Ralph sets up Borde Hill Garden as a charity

Sir Ralph sets up Borde Hill Garden as a charity and begins opening regularly to the public.

This photograph taken in the 1960s shows lupins growing in the Rose Garden.

1968–79
1968–79

Jack Vass, formerly head gardener at Sissinghurst Castle, is head gardener.

Jack Vass, formerly head gardener at Sissinghurst Castle, is head gardener. On his retirement, John Humphris (VMH, 2009) becomes head gardener (until 1983). Both Vass and Humphris win the RHS A.J. Waley Medal for their work on cultivating rhododendrons.

1970
1970

Robert inherits Borde Hill and becomes a top expert on growing and hybridizing rhododendrons.

Robert inherits Borde Hill and becomes a top expert on growing and hybridizing rhododendrons. Carries out detailed labelling and checking of the collection.

1976
1976

Robert wins an RHS Award of Merit for Rhododendron metternichii

Stephie is described by Harold Hillier as ‘the greatest amateur all-rounder in the gardening world of the twentieth century’. Robert wins an RHS Award of Merit for Rhododendron metternichii, one of many such awards.

1980
1980

Paeonia lutea ‘Jack Vass’ wins an RHS Award of Merit.

1982
1982
The Tennis Court being converted into The Italian Garden in 1982

A hard tennis court is converted into the ‘Bride’s Pool’, which later became the Italian Garden

1987
1987

Robert dies in November at the early age of sixty-two

A hurricane in October devastates woodland planting at Borde Hill. When Robert dies in November at the early age of sixty-two, Andrewjohn inherits. With the help of his wife, Eleni, he sets about putting the garden and estate on a more commercial footing.

1990–92
1990–92

Robertsmere, a large lake, is created

Robertsmere, a large lake, is created in the South Park in memory of Robert, for fishing and watering the garden in dry summers. Harry’s Lake, named after his grandson, is created nearby.

1995
1995

Jack Vass dies in his cottage at Borde Hill

1996
1996
The Rose Garden before 1990

Planting of Jay Robin’s Rose Garden

In the early 1990’s, Eleni Stephenson Clarke discovered an article on Borde Hill Garden in a copy of ‘Country Life’ magazine dating back to 1902 when Borde Hill was home to her husband’s great grandfather. A great rose lover, Eleni Stephenson Clarke was inspired to re-create a Rose Garden at Borde Hill using her favourite roses, David Austin English roses. Garden designer Robin Williams, an RHS Chelsea gold medallist, was commissioned to create the new garden which was named after the Stephenson Clarke’s daughter, Jay Robin, continuing the tradition of naming parts of the garden after family members.

The photograph shows herbaceous plants and grass in the Rose Garden area before it was redesigned.

1997
1997
The Italian Garden was previously known as the 'Bride's Pool', shown in this photograph before its redesign

Redesign of the Bride’s Pool as the Italian Garden

Before its 1997 redesign by Robin Williams senior, the Italian Garden was known as the 'Bride's Pool' after a nearby statue that now stands in the House.

This photograph shows the Bride's Pool before its redesign.

1997–99
1997–99
Victorian Greenhouse at Borde Hill. Image: Image Molly Mollman

Restoration of two Victorian greenhouses

Restoration of two Victorian greenhouses from a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

2011
2011

Planting of the Mid-Summer Border

Planting of the Mid-Summer Border, designed by Tony Lord (VMH, 2005). Emmenopterys henryi, a Forrest introduction, flowers in the Azalea Ring for the first time, eighty-three years after it was planted - it also flowers in 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2021.

2017
2017
The Round Dell original artist's impression by designed Sophie Walker

Reimagining of the Round Dell

Reimagining of the Round Dell by Sophie Walker, an RHS medal-winning garden designer. The contemporary design creates a bold entrance into the dell along a needle-shaped concrete path that, like a prow of a ship, steers a course through the heart of the foliage-rich planting.

2018
2018

125th anniversary of Borde Hill Garden

Gardiner Grove (named after long-term council member Jim Gardiner) of magnolias is planted to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Borde Hill Garden.

2020
2020

Redesign of the planting in the Italian Garden and Paradise Walk

Redesign of the planting in the Italian Garden and Paradise Walk by Chelsea gold medallist Chris Beardshaw.

2023
2023

Jay Goddard (née Stephenson Clarke) becomes Managing Director and 5th generation Family custodian of Borde Hill

Jay is the first woman to be Managing Director of the Estate and is passionate about preserving its beauty for future generations.

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