HOUSE AND ESTATE
THE ESTATE
The gardens
A brief history
The grounds and gardens at Chawton House Library continue to be in the process of restoration although a great deal has already been achieved. The focus of the restoration is the English landscape period of the eighteenth century together with Edward Austen Knight's early nineteenth-century additions of walled kitchen garden, shrubberies and parkland.
Even though their early twentieth century date puts them outside the chosen restoration period, it was decided to restore the Library and Upper Terraces, both influenced by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The former is now complete and work is continuing on the Upper Terrace. Throughout the estate, locally derived native trees and shrubs that were introduced to Britain prior to 1840 are being used as much as possible. The promotion of nature conservation and ecology to create a diversity of the land and wildlife habitats is a guiding principle.
