Page 104 - cn - fg -Belvoir -A Beautiful View - 2021 Catalogue

The Duchess Garden {initially known as the Ladies Garden} is positioned on the escarpment
slopes of Blackberry Hill. Capability Brown had envisioned a ‘shady seat’ in the wooded area.

However, Elizabeth wanted such a place as a secret garden that would be discovered after a walk
through the newly established woods that ascended from the castle.

Between 1807—1820’s the Duchess and Hermit Gardens were being established and landscaped,
whilst the new castle was still under construction. A ‘shady seat’ was placed on the terraced
escarpment in the form of a‘Root and Moss’ House, its position afforded views out to the vale and
pool in the Lower Gardens.

Elizabeth placed a column near the ‘Root and Moss’ house with her poem in celebration of the
gardens inscribed. The Alter Realist composition superimposes the pose of Elizabeth leaning
against the column, as painted by John Hoppner {1758-1810}, which hangs in the Castle Ballroom
with the present view of the same location.

Today the Duchess garden is a mixture of Elizabeth’s Ladies Garden, and the Spring Gardens
created by Violet the 8th Duchess in the early 1900’s and includes the restoration programme
carried out by Emma, the present Duchess.
Planted borders run along the Duke’s Walk Terrace, before merging into planting of shrubs and
ornamental trees planted for spring and autumn colours, and continues the themes of the Rose,
Japanese and Spring Gardens that surround the castle.

139850 ‘Chatelaine, Elizabeth 5th Duchess’
Canvas: 40x50 inches