Gardeners of Renown

The mercury has been beginning to dip at Betley Court Gardens. Most of the leaves seem to have come down in one great avalanche, and we have almost lost the visitors’ hub amongst them. Some of the leaves find their way down Tanhouse Brook, and end up in the eel trap, causing the pond to back up. Somebody will be along to stir up the debris in the eel trap’s chamber to allow the water to flow once more.

Leaf-strewn steps on the top path

The fish pond, like a mirror pool

The gazebo

End of the Long Path just by the gazebo

On the paddock, birds have a choice of succulent berries and fallen crab apples to choose from for their autumn dining; Guelder, hawthorn, rosehips and pippins. Now that pheasant shooting season is well under way, a wise male has taken shelter up near the barbeque area. He lets out a loud squawk as you approach, but seems unperturbed by activities going on in the garden.

Gueder rose (Viburnum opulus)

Malus domestica - one of Nigel's apple pippin trees

Malus x zumi 'Golden Hornet' a cherry-sized crab apple, prized for its ornament in autumn, but loved by the small creatures of the paddock

Following last week’s post about the passing of Henry Brassington, we’ve been sent some more information about former Betley Court gardeners. We knew from the article that Henry and his brother were great gardeners, winning many prizes at the Betley Show. Green-fingers must have run in the family, because Celia Burgess, niece to Henry and Wesley got in touch to say that their brother/her father, Frank Brassington, was also a gardener at Betley Court! She shared,

“He was very well trained at the Court by the Head Gardener. He was taught all the proper names of the species as well as the common names. He spoke fondly of his time at the Court”

I’m glad Frank received a thorough training at Betley Court. How I’d love to have a gardener assist that knew all the plant names by their Latin binomials, and understood plant care.

It seems that Betley Court gardeners were well-esteemed in the district, as demonstrated by an article sent over to us by Shirley Kenneley via the Facebook page (many thanks!). The article, from the Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser (dated 7 August 1880) mentions that the head gardener at Betley Court, Mr T Lovatt helped judge the third annual show of Alsagers Bank Horticultural Society. He was joined by Mr WH Green, gardener to the Venerable Archdeacon Sir LT Stamer, Bishop of Shrewsbury. It shows the kind of pedigree Betley Court gardeners enjoyed.

Shirley also drew our attention to a second article in the Chester Chronicle, dated 10 October 1942. Betley Court’s heyday is well and truly over by this time, and the article advertises the auction of the contents of the hot house, along with an outdoor plant auction. This was at the instruction of Captain Charles Fletcher Twemlow, the last Squire of Betley village. By this time, Betley Court had been requisitoned for the war effort, and was being used as a Red Cross hospital. The auction was followed by a sale of silverware and household goods, so perhaps the Captain and his wife were just downsizing, or getting rid of all the ancestor’s bits and bobs. I can’t help but reflect that even if the gardening staff saw the writng on the wall for Betley Court, it must have been soul-destroying to see plants you have tended sold off.

The hot house at Betley Court, date unknown. The hot house and other greenhouses were located where the private road Court Walk is now situated, The hot house was a 'half house' leaning against one of the walled garden walls. You can read more about Betley Court's greenhouses HERE

The list of plants mentioned is extensive, showcasing the range of plants grown and propagated at Betley Court. It includes; hydrangeas, azaleas, geraniums, primulas, a large variety of begonias, cinerarias, double and single chrysanthemums (decedents of Henry Brassington’s, perhaps?). gloxinias, coleus, arum lilies, maidenhair & asparagus ferns, cyclamen, verbena, to name just some.

'Auto-Culto' machine manufactured c. 1926: a motorised cultivation machine

 Photo: Myoldmachine.com

It was not just plants Capt Fletcher Twemlow was disposing of. He also instructed the auctioneers, Heywood & Sons to sell off some of the gardening equipment. This included the wonderfully named ‘Auto-Culto’ machine (2.5 horse power), a Dennis Motor lawn mower, garden frames, 4 water barrows on wheels (I could do with some of those myself!), 3 wheelbarrows, ladders, flower pots, forks, spades and small tools.

An advert for a Dennis motor lawn mower

Reading between the lines, it looks as if Capt Fletcher Twemlow was winding down the big house. The Captain and his wife spent the war, I believe, in White Cottage, opposite the entrance to Betley Court Farm, before moving to nearby Doddlespool Hall (now a residential home) which had be bought for the Betley Court Estate in 1903 By Eliza Anne Twemlow. He lived there until his death in 1976, but my late father-in-law recalled visiting the widowed Evelyn Fletcher Twemlow on several occasions around the time the Brown family bought Betley Court.

December opening:

Nigel, midflow during one of his talks

Tickets are still available for December’s Restoration Tour taking place on 11th-12th. The tour takes you up onto the scaffolding  - we provide safety hat and hi-viz but ask that you wear stout footwear . We will have a member of the Brown family and one of the build team experts on hand to give an insight into the project to rebuild Betley Court, and answer your questions. The gardens will also be open for a walk afterwards, and free mulled wine and mince pies available in the new visitors’ hub, where guest can view photographs of before and after the fire. Tickets are £10 from Eventbrite. 

All best wishes

Ladybird Su

CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER TICKET INFORMATION