Gresgarth
Gresgarth Hall in Lancashire (UK) dates back to the 14th Century and is nestled in the heart of the beautiful Lune valley. Home to the renowned Landscape Designer Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd, who has designed no fewer than six RHS Chelsea Gold medal gardens, we received a commission to create a pathway for her Zodiac garden.
The design was born of an interpretation of modern heraldry. The four zodiac signs; Leo, Virgo, Taurus and Capricorn, are a nod to the four members of the Lennox-Boyd family and are represented by Lion, Bull, Sea Goat and Winged Angel respectively . The zodiacs are linked by the swirls and star trails of the Milky Way, with other features including an olive tree for the Italian-born Lady Arabella, a temple for architecture (representing her Father’s keen interest) and other meteorological elements.
From a fabrication perspective, the 9.5m diameter mosaic required extensive slate carving for the swirls and painstaking grading of pebble size and colour throughout.
Many different types of pebble were sourced to create a degree of separation between the different focal points and provide important contrast with the silver-greys, neutrals and greens of the surrounding tall grasses, box and silvery-pink geraniums that arrive each Summer. White limestone, speckled grey granite, Lakeland green slate, blue slate, black quartzite, yellow jasper, scottish red jasper and brown flints all feature.
Gresgarth won the inaugural Historic Houses Garden of the Year: Judges' Choice Award in 2020. The Hall and Gardens are open to the general public on the second Sunday of the month between February and November.