Newby Hall’s Rock Garden remained largely untouched for more than a century, but now the 0.7-acre garden has reopened following a seven-year restoration project.
One of the largest and most significant Edwardian rock gardens in the UK, its story dates back to 1912 when it was created by Robert de Grey Vyner, the great-great-grandfather of the current Newby Hall owner, Richard Compton. Robert created a 1,600-square-metre rockery featuring a small waterfall and lily pond.
However, the First World War began just a week before its official opening. The Newby Hall garden team left for the front, and within a year, Robert had died, leaving the garden to slowly fall into decline over the decades.
Since 2019, efforts have been underway to restore the rock garden to its former glory. As part of the project, 35 overgrown trees were removed along with extensive weeds, while many mature trees were carefully retained. Visitors can now enjoy alpine species in open areas, while shaded sections feature carpets of herbaceous woodland plants.
Sharing the transformation on Facebook, Newby Hall wrote: “The Rock Garden transformed… Roses tumbling out of mature trees, above alpines in gravel pockets, and flowering shrubs with woodland plants.”
The restoration has involved excavating and replacing hundreds of tonnes of soil, realigning rockwork and pathways, restoring the waterfall and aqueduct bridge, and adding extensive gravel and mulch. More than 10,000 bulbs, shrubs and trees have been introduced, supplied by alpine specialists Kevock Garden Plants, including rare species such as Meconopsis blue poppies, primulas and clematis.
The Telegraph and Argus reports that, Richard Compton reflected on the restoration, saying: “It was a creative and ambitious blending of nature and design, rock and water, structure and colour. Over the decades, though, nature took its course. Trees shaded what once thrived in sunlight; rocks disappeared beneath moss and weeds, and many original plantings were lost. If we didn’t act soon, this treasured piece of our family’s history might quietly revert to its rocky outlines.
“It was Lucinda who looked at this once-drowsy corner of the garden and saw not decline, but potential. Our garden team toiled in all weathers, shifting tons of rocks, nursing seedlings, their tireless enthusiasm written into every crevice. They haven’t just restored a garden — they have revived a spirit and created a legacy.
“This restoration has been a true labour of love, from carefully chosen rare plantings to sensitive landscaping. The garden now stands as a living bridge between generations. It reminds us that beauty, like heritage, needs care and imagination to endure — and that every act of restoration is, in its own way, an act of hope for the future.”
To find out more and plan your trip, visit the Newby Hall website here.
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Feature Image Credit: Newby Hall & Gardens
