Visit to The Gibberd Garden

The man: knighted in 1967, Sir Frederick Gibberd was an architect, town planner and landscape architect, with a distinguished project record that included Liverpool Catholic Cathedral, Heathrow Airport terminals 1, 2 and 3, the Central Mosque in Regents Park and the buildings for three power stations (Hinkley Point, Didcot and Sizewell A). He also landscaped three reservoirs, including Kielder. A number of his buildings are listed.

In 1946 he was appointed master-planner for Harlow New Town and his original plan for the town is regarded by many as his greatest achievement.

Passionate about art, he accumulated a fine collection of modern British watercolours and drawings. During his lifetime he donated over forty works to Harlow Council and these are displayed in the Gibberd Gallery in the town centre.

The garden: developed between 1957-1984, the Grade II-listed garden is considered to be one of the most important 20C gardens in the country. The garden occupies 9 acres of a 14-acre site on the side of a small valley, sloping down to the Pincey Brook. It is full of sculptures and what Sir Frederick called ‘decorative objects’, including ceramic pots and items of architectural salvage. It has lawns, pools, streams and glades, a dramatic mature lime avenue, a brookside walk, a wild garden, an arboretum and a moated castle with a drawbridge.

Time: meet in the carpark at 10:20am prior to coffee/tea and biscuits in the house at 10:30am.

Logistics: the Gibberd Garden is easily accessed from the M11 on to the A1025 at junction 7A. Map directions from your starting point can be found here. Note that there is no right-hand turn into Marsh Lane from the M11 direction; instead, continue 350m to the next roundabout and return on the A1025 to turn left into Marsh Lane.

Other points of interest, though not included in our visit, are the Gibberd Gallery in town, which houses Sir Frederick Gifford Water ​Colour Collection, and the Harlow Sculpture Town Map and Guide, a printed map (available from the Gibberd Garden) featuring three sculpture trails which can be followed on foot. Further afield is the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens, 8.3 miles away at Perry Green, Much Hadham SG10 6EE (online booking required).

Bookings: £15 for members of CGT and the Plant Heritage Group, £17 for guests, by BACS transfer to our new bank account in the name of Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust (sort code 30-99-50, account number 80635768) using ‘Gibberd’ and your name as reference; please confirm payment by email to admin. Cheques, payable to Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust, may be sent to Judith Christie, Teal Cottage, Fen Drayton CB24 4SH. Booking deadline 12 October for catering.

We look forward to seeing you there!