Tree Sculpture Commemorates 11 Garden Custodians Across 332 Years

World-renowned Lake District garden, Levens Hall and Gardens, has underlined its heritage and 332 years of history, to highlight the dedication of just 11 head gardeners who have literally shaped it since 1694.

A brand new 2303mm high and 1572mm wide sculpture now adorns a wall in the gardens at the Elizabethan manor house.  At a historic property known for being home to the world’s oldest topiary garden, it is fittingly shaped as a tree.  The names of the 11 head gardeners, the latest of whom has just retired, are inscribed on the  brass leaves of the COR-TEN steel tree.  Also included are the dates during which the men served as head gardener.

The gardeners’ names are not placed in any particular order, ensuring the tree is neither top nor bottom-heavy with names.  Visitors can seek each name out and discover their individual story and how it entwines with that of the Levens Hall gardens, by heading to an accompanying article on the historic house’s website.  

Each head gardener’s story is compelling in its own way and helps narrate the history of a garden that is today the culmination of all of their collective work over the centuries.  Each has been a custodian of the garden, faced their own unique challenges and ensured the quirky formal topiary garden still exists today, as the world’s oldest. Beyond dedicated clipping, their work and projects in the rest of the gardens has also ensured a variety of other delightful experiences for visitors.

Levens Hall and Gardens had its awe-inspiring topiary garden and surrounding areas of the gardens planted and laid out at the end of the 17th century by Monsieur Guillaume Beaumont, the first head gardener.  The 11th head gardener, Chris Crowder, has just retired after 40 years and is about to hand the baton on to the 12th head gardener, Gillian Boyle, set to become the first female custodian in mid-September.

The fact there have only been 11 head gardeners in 332 years speaks volumes of the special nature of the gardens and the sense of pride and kudos that goes with the role.  Names to look for are: Guillaume Beaumont (1694-1727); Thomas Tyson (1727-1758); Archibald MacMillan (1758-1810); Alexander Forbes (1810-1861); Robert Craig (1861-1883); Alexander Milne (1883-1895); William Gibson (1895 to Post World War 1); F C King (1919-1954); Mr Robertson (1954-1980), Brian Robertson (1980-1986) and Chris Crowder (1986-2026).

Pride is now also instilled in Tom Vickers, the designer of the tree sculpture that marks these men. At the time of commission, Tom was running his own Lindale-based workshop in Cumbria, creating garden sculptures, gates, railings and engineered and automotive works in various materials.  Having just had a baby, this is now a sideline and he has returned to full-time work. However, the Levens project was exactly the sort of project he wanted to handle.

Creating the Levens Hall and Gardens tree sculpture took around three weeks, with numerous sketches, fine-tuning of those and angle adjustments.  There was then rather a challenge in fitting the sculpture onto an ancient leaning wall and beside a door with no straight edge.

Tom says, “I was blown away when asked to be involved. It has been incredible to celebrate the history of such a beautiful garden and the head gardeners who have cared for it across the centuries.  Being able to design and produce something to mark their legacy has been really special.”

The tree can now be viewed by visitors to the gardens, which will be staying open this year until the end of October half term.  It is fitted besides Mrs Taylor’s Gate, which is so named in honour of Diana, the great aunt of owner Richard Bagot, who lived in the bottom of the Hall’s stable block and had her own private area of the garden. 

The story of the 11 head gardeners of Levens Hall, now all commemorated on the sculpture, is in the news area at www.levenshall.co.uk                              

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Editors notes

Levens Hall & Gardens is a historic house in the South Lakes, Cumbria, close to Kendal and home to the world's oldest topiary gardens, dating from 1694, created by French garden designer, Guillaume Beaumont. The Hall is a stunning Elizabethan house built around a 13th century pele tower and has close links to the Duke of Wellington, as well as various items which once belonged to him and Napoleon Bonaparte. Levens Park is home to the rare Bagot goats gifted to the Bagot family and a place in which to stroll and enjoy nature. Levens Kitchen is the contemporary new cafe, full of delights for cake lovers and foodies alike.