Turn End Garden, designed and created by Peter Aldington from 1965 to 1976, has recently been added to the Register of Parks and Gardens at Grade II by Historic England – the public body that looks after England's historic environment.
Turn End garden was created as a natural extension to the house. In less than an acre, space is used to create an illusion of size. It is rich in unexpected angles, nooks, vistas, and made up of variety of styles. Turn End is one of only two post war examples where both the house and garden are listed by Historic England.
The garden has been included in its register for the following principal reasons:
Design interest:
- a post-war garden of interlinked informal spaces and garden rooms with naturalised planting around existing trees and orchard, interwoven with the house, it reflects Aldington's hands-on approach, spatial skills as a designer and deep understanding of materials and plants;
- created in conjunction with the house, it is an expression of the architect's belief that architecture and landscape design are an indivisible whole;
- this intimate linkage is rare in a later 20th century scheme, here devised by the same hand; the houses and garden are exemplary as a model of later 20th century intervention in a historic environment and are held in high regard by the architectural and horticultural professions.
Historic interest:
- created by a nationally acclaimed architect for himself and his family, it is an evolving garden within the heart of the historic village of Haddenham
Group value:
- with the Grade II* listed Turn End, Middle Turn and The Turn, with which it is indivisibly connected.
Historic England champions and protect historic places, helping people understand, value and care for them. The historic interest of Turn End garden will now be established as a material planning consideration and will receive special consideration if changes or proposals for development are contemplated. Local authorities are required to consult Historic England over any planning applications they receive which may affect sites on the Register. They are also directed to consult The Gardens Trust on applications which may affect any site on the Register regardless of grade.
Additionally, the Register is used by many local planning authorities as the basis for relevant conservation policies in statutory development plans.
Mark Sharratt, Chair of the Turn End Trust said he was delighted Turn End garden had been awarded Registered Park and Garden status. The Trust, established in 1998, aims to protect the small Turn End estate, make it available for the benefit of the wider public and avoid the danger of it being lost one day to developers.
The three houses (Turn End, Middle Turn and the Turn) and historic buildings within the garden are all listed at Grade 2*. To have the garden listed too gives greater protection over future development.
Turn End Garden is now published in the National Heritage List for England.
