History and restoration
Discover more about the garden's rich history and how it was restored
The History of the Rose Garden
The garden plays an important role in the Bushey community due it's former use as an art school and the colaboration of artist, Sir Hubert von Herkomer, and landscape architect, Thomas Mawson in the design of the garden you see today.
The Art School
During the latter part of the 19th Century many notable artists lived in Bushey. From 1883 until 1904 the Rose Garden was the site of an Art School established by Sir Hubert von Herkomer RA, an eminent Victorian artist (1849-1914).
Herkomer had some 500-600 artists studying there before he eventually grew weary of the responsibility of overseeing the school. Lucy Kemp-Welsh, a former student of Herkomer's, opened her own art school on the same premises, 'The Bushey School of Painting', in 1905. Herkomer repurchased the school in 1912 and demolished it.
The House
Herkomer built a house called 'Lululaund' in Melbourne Road adjoining the Rose Garden but all that remains of the house is part of the front elevation which is now the entrance to the Bushey branch of the Royal British Legion . The house was designed by H H Richardson, an American architect, and was built between 1886-1894. It has been referred to as a 'Bavarian Castle' and was named after Herkomer's second wife Lulu.
In 1912 Herkomer demolished the Art School and commissioned Thomas Mawson (1861-1933) to design a garden. Mawson noted his proposals on his first visit:
"...The garden was to be separated from the kitchen garden by a brick-built pergola, with a handsome garden pavilion at one end. The centre of the panel rose garden was to be sunk two feet, with a fountain in the centre, and considerable spaces of ground were to be planted as foils against adjoining properties..."
Many of the original features of the garden still remain such as the Sunken Garden, Summer House, Monument, Column and Pergola. The Cloister in the lawn area were the remnants of the Art School and were found by Three Valley Water at their depot in Clay Lane and re-erected in the garden in the mid-1990s.
The garden was commissioned in exchange for a portrait by Herkomer. In Mawson's autobiography he wrote:
"...Herkomer remarked: "We have still to settle your fees, and I am going to make a suggestion which I hope you will accept. I think," he said, "you ought to have our portrait painted; my price for this would be six hundred guineas. Let's swop. I’ll do your portrait, whilst you design my rose garden, and we’ll call it quits."
Mawson later became the President of the Landscape Institute in 1929 and has left a legacy of parks and gardens in the UK and abroad.
The Bushey Urban District Council bought the garden in 1937 from the Herkomer estate and was opened to the public in the same year.
Recent history
During the late 1980s and early 1990s with the drive for greater efficiencies and revenue savings under the Compulsory Competitive Tendering regime, the Rose Garden in common with many parks nationally suffered from under-investment which lead to the deterioration of the fabric of the garden.
In 2002 the Rose Garden was registered as a Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest Grade II. Since December 2005, the Garden was partially closed due to vandalism.
The Sunken Garden in December 2008 before restoration started
The restoration
After successfully received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund 'Parks for People' programme in 2008, Hertsmere Borough Council has restored the garden to its formally glory.
Crispin & Borst were appointed as the main contractor to carry out the work to restore the garden and it's listed features and started on site in August 2009. Crispin & Borst was appointed by Hertsmere Borough Council following a two-stage tender process. The project team also includes council officers, lead consultants and project landscape architects - Land Use Consultants and architects - Rees Bolter Associates. Restoration of the garden was completed in June 2010.
Sunken Garden in May 2010
The garden was officially opened on 23 July 2010 by the Lord Lieutenant, Countess of Verulam in front of 150 VIPs.
Here is a summary of all the restoration work that has taken place:
Summer House - the roof has been replaced with handmade tiles; the interior work includes plasterwork and restoring the fireplace. New doors and glass fanlights have been installed. The summer house will be an information office containing a display about the history of the garden, Hubert von Herkomer and the designer Thomas Mawson.
Fountain - this has been thoroughly cleaned, repaired and is now a working fountain.
The Cloisters - the red sandstone has been carefully dismantled, cleaned and reassembled to form a backdrop for music and theatrical performances. New paving has been laid for the 'stage' area.
Potting Shed and Toilets - the new one-storey building is in a similar style to the summer house with rendering, red brickwork and handmade roof tiles.
Lululaund Plaque - an artist has created a replacement plaque which is the focal point at the end of the pergola. The original seven foot plaque designed by Sir Herbert von Herkomer was stolen in the 1960s.
Pergola - new curved oak beams have been fitted to the pergola. New roses and clematis have been planted.
Rose Temple - the column has been restored to the original design of a Rose Temple. Roses and clematis have been planted which will eventually cover the temple in flowers and scent in summer months.
Paving - each brick has been carefully lifted and as many as possible have been reused. The bricks have been laid in the original basketweave pattern and yorkstone relaid around the fountain.
Rose Pillars - rose pillars similar to the original design have been installed. The metal tops have been made by local blacksmith, Steve Rock. Roses and clematis will eventually cover these features.
Planting - over 4,000 plants have been planted, many from Thomas Mawson's plant list. The planting scheme has been designed to bring all year round interest to the garden.
High Street railings - new railings have been fitted to the top of the existing wall and the original gate has been treated and refitted.
Gardener - the on-site gardener, Paul Knott, has been appointed and started on site in June.
Other items includes new gate and railings at the Herkomer Road entrance; new seating similar to the original design by Thomas Mawson; new footpath along Rose Walk and around the lawn; CCTV, bins and benches and re-establish the lawn.
The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Countess of Verulam and the Mayor, Cllr Linda Silva, at the VIP day in July 2010
The Steering Group, made up of council officers, councillors, Friends of the Rose Garden and Bushey Museum continue to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues about the garden. If you would like a matter raised at our next steering group meeting, please contact Fiona Leadley on 0800 731 1810 or email fiona.leadley@hertsmere.gov.uk.
For further details see our latest news page.
Further details on Sir Hubert von Herkomer can be found at the Bushey Museum, Rudolph Road, Bushey, open Thursdays to Sundays, 11am - 4pm.