Basic HTML Version
BCD Special Report
Historic Gardens 2010
21
Conservation of
historic designed
landscapes
and the English planning system
Jonathan Lovie
T
he study of ‘garden history’ is a relatively
new discipline. The term itself, like
the frequently used short-hand ‘parks
and gardens’, fails to recognise the dynamic
nature of the subject, and the constantly
evolving understanding of the various
landscape types which make a significant
contribution to England’s cultural heritage –
and indeed, to European and world culture.
In order that designed landscapes of all
types, from the great landscape parks such as
Stowe or Petworth, to public parks, cemeteries
and even institutional landscapes, that have
a special or national significance should be
easily recognised, the 1983
National Heritage
Act
empowered English Heritage to compile
a Register of ‘parks, gardens and other land’.
The Register of Parks
and Gardens of Special
Historic Interest
The initial
Register
was compiled in the mid-
1980s, and was revised in the late 1990s.
The designation now comprises over 1,600
designed landscapes which are nationally
significant, and new sites continue to be
added as and when they are identified.
In order to merit inclusion on the
Register
,
and in order to ensure a consistency within the
designation, a site must demonstrate through
its historic development and interest, its
design and integrity that it meets one or more
of English Heritage’s criteria for designation.
To this extent it is important to remember that
the
Register
is a highly selective designation,
and only those sites which are assessed to be
of national significance will be included.
While all landscapes designated on
the
Register
are of national significance, it
is obvious that some will, by their age,
rarity or perhaps design interest, be of
greater significance than others. In order
to reflect this, designated landscapes are
graded at Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II.
Grade I landscapes will be those
considered to be of international significance
(such as Stowe, Blenheim or Highgate
Cemetery); Grade II* sites are those which
are of exceptional national significance (such
as Godolphin in Cornwall or Crystal Palace
Park in London); and Grade II sites are those
considered to be of national significance.
Morrab Gardens, Penzance – a late 19th century public park designed by Reginald Upcher of Poole which is included on the Register of Parks and Gardens at Grade II (Photo: Jonathan Lovie)