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About Belvoir Castle
Over the centuries, Belvoir’s formal gardens have undergone several major changes, with most Duchesses leaving their mark. Elizabeth (5th Duchess of Rutland) commissioned the Rev Sir John Thoroton to terrace the gardens in 1815 – and later on, Violet the 8th Duchess commissioned the renowned Edwardian garden designer Harold Peto (1854-1933) to create the gardens we know and love today, recently rediscovered in the castle archives.
The roses you’ll see were designed by Emma, the current Duchess of Rutland working closely with her Head Gardener Andy Tudbury.
In the early 18th Century, along with Trentham and Chatsworth, the gardens at Belvoir were regarded as some of the greatest north of London and the current Duchess is determined to continue redeveloping these beautiful gardens to restore them to their former glory.
Japanese Woodland
Many of the magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias were sourced from the original seed collection of Charles Williams from Caerhays Castle in Cornwall and Burncoose Nurseries, avid seed collectors who undertook many expeditions to Western China. The conditions in this small valley at Belvoir are perfect – sheltered from winds on all sides, and with wet ground which is well suited to hardy exotics.
Duchess Garden
Cultivated by Elizabeth 5th Duchess of Rutland in 1814 and a fine example of a picturesque Regency garden – it was a peaceful place to retreat from the restoration and rebuilding of the Castle at the time. The garden had been completely neglected for over 30 years since the Second World War, and was only rediscovered in 1970 by Frances, the Dowager Duchess of Rutland.
Hermit’s Garden
The Hermit’s Garden covers seven acres adjoining the Duchess Gardens and has recently seen a substantial rejuvenation programme in clearing and replanting. Two Regency grottoes were uncovered and the area gets its name due to the fashion of the late Georgian and early Victorian periods to pay a hermit to live in your grotto.
Capability Brown
In 2013 an extensive two year restoration programme began at Belvoir with the clearance of over 500 acres of woodland. At the same time a set of landscaping plans drawn up in 1780 by Capability Brown were discovered, thought to have been lost in the fire of 1816. 250 years later the current Duchess of Rutland has finally brought these plans to life.
Website:
https://www.belvoircastle.com
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