The lost underground gardens and grottoes of Dewstow

Pond and rockeries at DewstowFrom information and photographs supplied by John Harris

A lost garden has been discovered in South Wales and after six years of painstaking excavation and renovation has been opened to the public. What is unusual about this particular garden is that much of it is underground. Tunnels and underground grottoes were buried under thousands of tons of soil for over 50 years. Built around 1895 the gardens were buried just after World War II and rediscovered in 2000 by the present owner John Harris and his family.The gardens were created by "James Pulham & Sons" landscapers, Rock Builders and Garden Designers for Henry Oakley a director of the Great Western Railway. More details of the fascinating family of the Pulhams and the ‘invention’ that came to be sought after and named ‘Pulhamite’, can be found on: http://www.dewstow.co.uk/gardennspulham.htm

Water garden and stream at Dewstow GardensThis was a garden, the like of which is not known to exist anywhere else. On the ground level, there were many Rock Gardens, Ponds, Water features, Ornamental areas, Tropical Glass Houses and a vast variety of Plants, Shrubs and Trees from around the world. These were Spectacular, but not unique. It is only when you go below these gardens, and you enter the subterranean world underneath, that you begin to understand the extent of the vision and enormous amount of work and skills involved in creating Gardens that were unique.

Most of the surface gardens were filled in at various points over the years, but excavation has shown that what has been uncovered so far is in excellent condition. All the glasshouses have longGrotto scene at Dewstow gone, as have the ornaments and many special features around the gardens, which have been, either broken up or sold by previous owners. The underground network is now opened up and but for a few repairs is in good condition.

The gardens had been buried around the 1940s and 50s and after excavation, although some areas were in very poor condition, other parts remained as good as the day the gardens were built. Most of the repairs have now been completed during a massive restoration operation, which began in 2000 What was revealed were many ponds and rills but interestingly a labyrinth of underground grottoes, tunnels and sunken ferneries.

The rock gardens are made up of a mixture of real stone and faced stone using various types of Pulhamite. The site is approximately 7 acres and over the last six years the present owners, the Harris family, have renovated as much as they possibly could.
The website on http://www.dewstow.co.uk/gardens.htm is well worth a browse even if you feel the Chepstow area is too far a way to travel to. I think if you have good read you may well change your mind

The gardens are open Wednesday to Sunday every week until the middle of October, from 10am to 4pm
Contact details are:
Dewstow Golf Club
Caerwent
Monmouthshire
South Wales
NP26 5AH

Tel: 01291 430444
Fax: 01291 425816

email: info@dewstow.com

Prices
Adults £6
Concessions £5
OAP £5
Children under 14 £3.50
Under 10s FREE
Family Ticket £18 (2 Adults and Two Children)
Season Ticket £20

(enables you to visit the gardens on any open day throughout the season)

"Group bookings" Must be pre-booked

Group bookings (15 minimum) can be arranged on most dates Monday to Sunday and are charged at the concessionary rate of £5.00 per person.

“Guided tours” can be arranged for an extra £2 per head
(Guided tours are only available Monday to Friday).

Groups min 15 £5pp
Groups with tour £7pp

They recommend a minimum of 11?2 hours to visit the Garden, however, most Groups stay much longer than this.