Restoration project returns former Ministry of Defence site to Baroque splendour

One of Britain's finest 18th century Water Gardens will open to the public for the very first time tomorrow (Friday 2 October), marking the completion of a major restoration project.

Funded by The Royal Parks, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Crown Estate, The Royal Parks Foundation, and other supporters, the Upper Lodge Water Gardens are the centrepiece of a programme of improvements to Bushy Park, located to the south west of London.

Comprising a Baroque-style collection of pools, cascades, basins and a canal, the gardens disappeared beneath undergrowth and silt through the 20th century and their existence was largely forgotten. Restoration plans got underway in the 1990s, with research undertaken by the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks, and the discovery by Sir Roy Strong of an 18th century painting of the gardens. The Royal Parks built on this early work and secured funding and management responsibility for the site in 2006, allowing restoration work to begin.

The restoration included de-silting and returning the ponds to their original shape and depth, and overhauling the water engineering system to restore the direct connection to the Longford River. The badly-damaged southern flank cascade wall was carefully reconstructed, reincorporating original stonework and bricks into the new structure, and the cascade and northern flank wall were also restored.

Archaeological investigations pinpointed the location of the original stoop basins and alcoves which flank the cascade and these were reconstructed. Formal landscaping and the installation of footpaths have completed the reclamation of the gardens.

Built by the 1st Earl of Halifax as a private recreational garden in 1710, the Water Gardens went on to play a unique role in 20th century events, firstly as a hospital for Canadian troops during WW1, then as swimming pools as part of an open air school for East End Boys with respiratory diseases. The site was used as US barracks during WW2, before being taken over by the Ministry of Defence, playing a significant role in the development of Cold War defence technology. The site then fell into disrepair and remained closed.

The project has also restored and provided access to the adjacent Brew House, built to provide ale for the household and workers of the Upper Lodge estate. A new bridge links the Brew House with the Water Gardens, crossing a utility cascade built by the Admiralty in the 1950s.

Greg McErlean, Director of Major Projects at The Royal Parks said: "Starting as a degraded and unsafe heritage asset, little known and out of the public eyes, the gardens have been transformed through detailed research, design, quality workmanship, and support from the local community. By bringing to life this unique landscape we hope the gardens will prove to be a popular addition to visitors' enjoyment of the park for many more years to come."

Wesley Kerr, Chairman of the Committee For London, Heritage Lottery Fund said: "Bushy Park is one of London's largest, most exquisite, open spaces and this superb restoration of the Water Gardens, three centuries after they were created, is among dozens of improvements in the landscape and infrastructure which HLF's £4.5 million investment has enabled. As the National Lottery celebrates its 15th anniversary, Bushy joins the hundreds of parks which have been dramatically enhanced through it."

Sara Lom, Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Foundation said: "We are immensely grateful to all those generous individuals and companies who have given gifts to help restore this rare piece of history. The transformation is breathtaking and will, we hope, act as a catalyst for others to support the Bushy Park Diana Fountain Restoration."

Pieter Morpurgo, Chairman of The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks said: "We have been particularly proud of our initial input to this project by carrying out the early historical and archaeological research and setting up the Water Gardens Trust. The efforts of the Friends, and especially our former chairman, Kathy White, enabled the production of a Restoration Master Plan with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This has formed the basis of the restoration completed by The Royal Parks. The Friends are delighted that their efforts have initiated the remarkable restoration of the gardens opening today. It is a wonderful garden which the public will enjoy for generations."

It is hoped that a future phase will include the re-provision of the original rough stone facings and metalwork decorations to the cascade walls and alcoves.

Media enquiries:

For further information or images please contact:

Katy Murray on 0300 061 2128 or kmurray@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

Lucy Skipper on 0300 061 2145 or lskipper@royaloparks.gsi.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

• Water Gardens Opening Hours - The Upper Lodge Water Gardens will be open to the public from Friday 2nd October 2009. The gardens will initially be open from 9am to dusk Thursdays - Sundays only; and will be closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, to allow for ongoing landscape establishment works. From Tuesday 10th November the Water Gardens will be open every day except Mondays (Bank Holidays excepted, when the gardens will be closed on Tuesdays).
• Bushy Park Restoration Project - This £7.2 million project to restore formal gardens and buildings started in January 2006, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other sources. The project has provided better facilities for visitors with the opening of the new Pheasantry Welcome Centre cafe and information point, improved habitats for wildlife and plants, and a more comprehensive community education programme. New and resurfaced paths have been laid, repairs and improvements made to entranceways, and the de-silting and restoration of water bodies completed. Extensive replanting has taken place in the Woodland Gardens, and facilities at the Stockyard Education and Volunteer Centre have been upgraded. The final phase of the project is the restoration of the Diana Fountain, due for completion winter 2009/10.
• With special thanks to The Heritage Lottery Fund, The Crown Estates, The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks, The Royal Parks Foundation, and The Royal Parks' volunteers.
• The Crown Estate has leased the land to the Royal Parks to enable it to be opened to the public and has provided significant partnership funding for its restoration and maintenance. The architects for the Water Gardens project were Land Use Consultants and the restoration was undertaken by English Landscapes Ltd.
• Other contractors and consultants on the Bushy Park restoration project include: Adrem Contracts, Bactec International, Blakedown SE Ltd, Community Consultation, ECSI, Fitzpatrick Woolmer, Fountains plc, Frosts Landscape Construction Ltd, Gavin Jones Ltd, Huntley Cartwright, Kingcombe Acqucare, LDA Design, Martin Ashley Architects, Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd, Premier Tree & Ground Care Ltd, Procare Construction, R Durtnell & Sons Ltd, Randall Shaw Billingham, Sherman Construction, TPS Consult, Universal Stone and Alice Bigelow.
• Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK, with over £850 million granted in London alone. Website: www.hlf.org.uk
• The Friends of Bushy Park has 800 members from the large local community and from further afield. Their aims are to help conserve and protect the park, while encouraging visitors to enjoy its parkland, wildlife and ecology. Website: www.fbhp.org.uk
• The Royal Parks Foundation is the charity for London's eight Royal Parks. It aims to help protect and enhance the Parks and reaches out to make them part of more people's lives. Registered charity number 1097545. For further information please visit: www.royalparksfoundation.org
• Bushy Park to the south west of London, has a history stretching back at least 4,000 years, firstly as a settlement and farming land, then as a park for hunting deer. The Park was also the site of a US base in the Second World War from which Eisenhower planned the invasion of Europe. Today, Bushy Park offers a unique open space for the community. Covering 445 hectares (1099 acres), the Park is home to around 320 free-roaming wild deer and countless plant and wildlife species. The Park combines 'wild' open spaces with formal avenues of trees and historic buildings, sporting grounds and a playground.
• The Royal Parks is an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Richmond Park and St James's Park. For further information please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk