Creating a remarkable garden requires time, commitment, and a strong sense of belonging. When you become a steadfast resident of a particular place, your garden has the potential to flourish and evolve into something extraordinary. I have witnessed this firsthand with my own garden around an Old Vicarage in the Cotswolds, which is now in its 36th year. However, during a recent visit to East Ruston, another garden at an Old Vicarage in Norfolk, I was astounded by what can be achieved with 50 years of dedication.
Alan Gray and Graham Robeson purchased East Ruston’s Old Vicarage and its two-acre grounds in 1973 for a mere £20,350. At the time, the house, constructed from brick approximately 60 years prior, lacked aesthetic appeal and had been unoccupied for three years. The garden, too, was in disarray, a product of neglect typical of vicars who found themselves overwhelmed by the size of their gardens rather than driven by theological reasons. Sparse features such as a pink-flowered Albertine rose, holly trees, and yellow-flowered lupins were scattered amidst overgrown grass and ground elder.
Despite residing primarily in London due to their respective careers as an antique furniture dealer and property manager, Gray and Robeson took it upon themselves to renovate the house and transform the garden. By 1989, they had expanded the garden to an impressive 32 acres, which now includes an orchard and a park. With the help of modern technology, they managed to balance their other responsibilities while dedicating most of their time to the vicarage. This harmonious partnership between Gray and Robeson exemplifies the wisdom imparted by my predecessor, Arthur Hellyer, who emphasized the collaborative nature of successful gardens.
While Gray handles the planting and down-to-earth gardening, Robeson’s keen eye for design has given the garden its elegant proportions and pleasing spacing. As we strolled down one of the garden’s long alleys, Robeson humbly admitted to his limited involvement in the gardening process, reserving his input for major changes. Gray’s true talent lies in his skillful arrangement of abundant plant varieties throughout East Ruston.
The decision to open their garden to the public was a moment of revelation for Gray and Robeson. They garnered over 1,000 visitors on the very first day, their intriguing partnership capturing people’s curiosity. Since then, they have become one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Partner Gardens, attracting approximately 30,000 visitors annually and contributing to the society’s efforts through gate receipts.
Comparing their 50-year-old garden to my own, it is clear that a 15-year difference will not bridge the gap between us. Not only do they outnumber me, but their garden also benefits from superior soil quality and unique, thriving plant species that I have yet to encounter. While East Ruston experiences strong coastal winds, the Old Vicarage enjoys the shelter of carefully positioned trees like holm oaks. The microclimate in this pocket of Norfolk provides comparable mildness to certain parts of Cornwall, a result of an advantageous combination of geography and soil conditions. The loamy, fertile soil that Gray recognized from his childhood became the perfect canvas for his lifelong passion.
The Old Vicarage garden’s design alone is worth a meticulous visit, even without its striking assortment of plants. The recently published guidebook, complete with a fold-out map, invites visitors to appreciate the coordinated magnificence of this grand-scale masterpiece.
Robeson’s skilled adherence to the Arts and Crafts style is evident in the garden’s semicircular, brick-built flights of steps that connect different levels. While these architectural features reflect the house’s era, I would have opted for straight lines in step design, should aesthetics permit. Nevertheless, the design of the Old Vicarage garden remains captivating, even without the presence of extraordinary plant specimens. Little wonder that it has been bequeathed to the garden charity Perennial on its 50th birthday, guaranteeing its preservation and serving as a testament to the unstoppable world of gardening.
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