The garden of a listed building has also received protected status by Historic England.
The Garden of Great Ruffins in Wickham Bishops, Essex, has been given a Grade II listing in recognition of its close resemblance to its original layout, with a terrace, a series of garden rooms, sunken rockery, cedar avenue, bowling green and surrounding yew hedges.
In 1903, it was created by nationally renowned architect Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo as part of plans for his family home, but he was forced to sell it in 1920 without ever living there due to financial difficulties.
The suburban arts and crafts garden is Mackmurdo’s last surviving landscape.
It blends formal areas of the house with the open landscape [Historic England]
His design was intended to mirror his social beliefs about harmonious living.
It achieves this by blending more formal areas near the house with “rustic” woodland walks, and eventually to the open countryside.
Views of the garden and wider landscape beyond can be seen from the Grade II* listed building’s tower.
Outside of his work at Great Ruffins, Mackmurdo was an influential designer, artist and architect within the arts and crafts movement.
He co-founded the Century Guild of Artists in 1882 and was a social reformer; particularly interested in the social problems of rural areas.
That led to him becoming the founding secretary of the Rural Community Council for Essex in 1929.
The grounds are near Witham in Essex [Historic England]
Tony Calladine, East of England regional director at Historic England, said the grounds have had a “great influence” on British garden design.
“The arts and crafts movement emphasised harmony between buildings and landscapes – principles that continue to inspire designers and gardeners today,” he said.
“The protection of Great Ruffins’ garden means that it will continue to be seen and enjoyed in the Essex landscape it was designed to complement, for generations to come.”
Owner of the property, Lionel Bailly, said: “In these times where less and less value seems to be placed on the creation of beauty and the need for lived spaces to be harmonious with the natural environment, we are so pleased that Historic England has recognised this garden as worthy of protection.
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