A new garden at historic Hillside House, Allcroft Road.
Heritage Open Days 2023
Sat 16 Sep, 10, 11 & 12 noon
The new garden at Hillside House was created in 2020-21. It is are open to the public for the first time during Heritage Open days 2023.
Hillside House (by local architects Morris and Stallwood) was built in 1880 for William Isaac Palmer of Huntley and Palmer, biscuit manufacturers. It was subsequently bought by Leonard Goodhart Sutton, of Suttons Seeds who, using the same architects, extended it in 1898. In 2014 the property was acquired by Turner Property from Reading University. In 2019 two additional houses and a pavilion-style common room were built in Hillside Court. These new buildings in the centre of the site have separated the student blocks from Hillside House allowing for the creation of a new garden in 2020-21.
Designed by Lloyd Turner and garden designer Gaila Adair (see also Watlington House Gardens, Caversham Court Gardens) the garden celebrates the history of the house and is a memorial to the four, of five, sons of the Sutton family who gave their lives during the First World War.
The planting scheme is partly in place. Plans for bedding plants have been hit by this June's dry spell. Nevertheless, the structure of the garden is now established and the impressive stone memorials and "gazebo" are in place.
There are 3 opportunities to visit; 10am, 11 am and 12 noon. Lloyd will give a guided tour of the garden and explain the influences on its design, after which you may wander around around the garden.
