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An Evening At Heathfield
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Members of the Society met at Heathfield
on a fine evening on 15th May 2001 and found the azaleas and
rhododendrons approaching their peak, and the foliage colours
at their spring best. Mr Shaun Kiddell, Development and Technical
Manager of Croydon Council's Cultural Services Department, gave
a talk on the history and development of the gardens.
In their present form they own much to the keen interest of Mr
Raymond Riesco and his wife, who lived at Heathfield from 1927
to 1964. He did much construction and planting, most notably
the rock garden, which was displaying heathers and foliage colours
at the time of our visit, and the formal terraces on the south
side of the house. Mrs Riesco was fond of roses and herbaceous
plants and the rose garden was her contribution, Under Mr Riesco
a model farm was established on the Heathfield estate, which
includes the adjacent farmland, now leased to a farmer. |
| Members of the society listening to Croydon
Council's Shaun Kiddell (facing camera by wall and steps) |
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The earlier history of the estate and its gardens reflects
the changes in garden fashion and practice over the years. An
early layout in the style of "Capability" Brown, who
had done work at Addington Palace, was drastically changed over
the years. The estate came into the occupancy of Henry Goschen,
second son of the Victorian politician and financier Viscount
Goschen. The Goschen family also owned the Ballards estate. After
a rather thin period during which the estate was in the ownership
of the shipping magnate Howard Houlder and later of the builder
Costain, who never lived in the house, the estate was bought
in 1927 by Mr Riesco. In 1945, after the second world war, Mr
Riesco was in discussion with Croydon Council about the future
of the estate, some of which was sold to the Council to meet
urgent housing needs, and the gardens were opened to the public
in 1958. The balance of the estate and the mansion passed to
the Council on the death of Mr Riesco in 1964, and he must be
counted a benefactor for affording the public the opportunity
to enjoy these fine gardens.
| Under the Council the gardens have
been well cared for and improved. New planting, the redesign
of the walled garden and the terraces has been done. Tramlink
threatened the gardens, but with careful planning and tough negotiations
with the Tramlink authorities the effects have been reduced,
and the rock garden in particular retains its former glory. Replanting
of an orchard with traditional varieties has begun. For the future,
Shaun Kiddell would like to see replanting of great trees in
the wider landscape beyond the present limits of the gardens
and regeneration of the present planting as nature requires. |
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more intense listening by members
of the Society to Shaun Kiddell |
A memorable evening for the Society. Our grateful thanks go
to Shaun Kiddell for his interesting and entertaining talk, the
opportunity to see the gardens at their best, and for his own
contribution to their continuing development and history.
Geoffrey Myers
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