Historic gardens saved
The historic gardens of Easton Lodge, near Braintree in Essex, will stay open thanks to the success of an appeal to riase £25,000.
The gardens were threatened with closure when the current owners, Brian and Diana Creasey, retired at the end of April. The success of the appeal means the gardens will stay open under the new management of the Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust.
The gardens have a long history from Tudor times to the Second World War. Its most famous owner was Daisy, the Countess of Warwick, who turned from being a socialite member of the Marlborough set and mistress of Edward VII to become a fervent supporter of the then new Labour Party. It was she who commissioned the design from Harold Peto - one his best designs in the UK.
In World War II the gardens were turned into a base for many RAF and USAF personnel and a monument to these brave men can be seen in the avenue of the gardens. The museum contains pictures and reminiscences from this time and the gardens provide a regular source of inspiration for former serving officers and their surviving families.
The Trust is in the process of writing a development plan for the gardens and intends to submit a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to restore Peto’s design and to provide improved visitor facilities. A further appeal for up to £250,000 will soon be launched to raise the matched funding which will be needed to support the Heritage Lottery Fund application.