History

Morland House has been home to the Markham family since 1828. The original gardens provided a rural setting for the Tudor parsonage built near the ancient village church with its Saxon tower. The house was updated in the 18th century with a pretty Georgian façade facing south, a library for the rector and a formal front garden to set off the new design. At the beginning of the 19th century the gardens were extended on a far grander scale. The lawns were levelled, an artificial cliff added and a walk created along the beck – all in time for the arrival of the new vicar, the Revd William Rice Markham.

The house was much enlarged in the 1880’s after it was bought from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners by Revd William to become the family home for his only daughter, Maria and new son-in-law and cousin, Captain Francis Markham. The gardens were again extended by the energetic young couple who were keen gardeners and employed six men to help.

The quarries and lands across the beck were bought and turned into a romantic garden complete with grotto, cliff top walk and rock beds. To feed the growing family, the kitchen garden was laid out behind a high stone wall and a range of greenhouses built. 

Today, the kitchen garden is now home to the rose garden and the gardens over the beck are naturalised. The chief interest in the garden lies in the fascinating variety of its layout, the beck, the bridges, the winding walks and the unexpected features.

Gallery