Plantation Garden, Norwich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Plantation Garden |
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The garden in January 2020
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| Type | Garden |
| Location | Norwich |
| Restored by | Plantation Garden Preservation Trust |
| Official name: The Plantation Garden | |
| Reference no. | 5048 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: The Plantation Garden, Norwich | |
| Designated | 18 September 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1001012 |
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The Plantation Garden is a beautiful old garden in Norwich, Norfolk. It's a special place that looks like it came straight out of the Victorian times. This garden is a hidden gem, carefully looked after by volunteers. If you want to visit, it costs just £2, and it's open every day of the year.
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Discovering the Garden
The Plantation Garden is a restored Victorian town garden. It's found in an old chalk quarry in Norwich. Volunteers work hard to keep it looking amazing.
This unique garden has many cool features. You can see a 'Gothic' fountain and lovely flower beds. There are also green lawns and shady woodland paths. A rustic bridge crosses over a small dip. You'll also find an Italianate terrace and a 'Medieval' terrace wall. The garden is full of interesting architectural details from the mid-1800s. One newspaper even called it "a tycoon's folly," meaning it was a rich person's fun, unusual project.
The Garden's History
How the Garden Started
The Plantation Garden is located on Earlham Road. It was created about 140 years ago by Henry Trevor. He was a shopkeeper from Norwich. He started building the garden in an old, abandoned quarry that was about 3 acres (12,000 square meters) in size.
For 40 years, Henry Trevor worked on his garden. It became a stunning showpiece. He added terraces, water features, and rockeries. A large fountain, designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance, was also a main feature. At one time, the garden even had eight glasshouses! An architect named Edward Boardman might have helped with the design. He worked with Trevor on other projects. After Henry Trevor passed away in 1897, the garden slowly began to be neglected.
Saving the Garden
After the Second World War, the garden became completely run down. It was left abandoned for many years. But in 1980, a group called the Plantation Garden Preservation Trust was formed. Their goal was to save and restore the garden for everyone to enjoy. A famous art historian named Roy Strong helps support this trust.
Recent Challenges and Reopening
In April 2016, the garden had to close. A wall on the terrace was damaged. This happened because an old mining tunnel under Earlham Road collapsed. Luckily, the garden was able to reopen quickly on April 23, 2016.
Later, in January 2017, three sinkholes appeared near the garden. The Norwich City Council decided to check the ground underground. They sealed off the garden entrances on January 28 to keep everyone safe. After more safety tests, the garden was able to reopen to the public on March 15, 2017.
