Madresfield Court is a magnificent moated Elizabethan manor, with 80 acres of beautiful gardens at the foot of the Malvern Hills. It can trace its origins to the de Braci family in the twelfth century, and was handed on to the Lygon family through marriage in the fifteenth century.   William Lygon was created the first Earl of Beauchamp in 1815, and the eighth and last Earl died in 1979. Madresfield Court is now occupied by his niece, Lady Morrison.

Fig 1 - Entrance to the Rock Garden at Madresfield Court

The remains of the original twelfth century house are now all below moat water level, and very little of the fifteenth century additions now remain - the majority of that house being pulled down and rebuilt in Victorian Gothic style during the nineteenth century.

It was during this period that the then Earl of Beauchamp and his gardener, William Crump, developed the gardens, which are divided into discreet sections.   The gardens are opened to the public on a few Charity days each year, and the lucky visitor will find a Yew Garden, a Maze, and a Herbaceous Border; a pleached Lime Arbour, a Cedar Avenue, an Oak Avenue, and a Poplar Avenue; Wild Gardens, and a Rock Garden.

Fig 2 - Dropping Well amid the rocks

It is with this latter garden that we are concerned here, because it was constructed by James Pulham (2) between 1877-79.   It is commonly regarded as being one of Pulhams' masterpieces, and is indeed a truly awe-inspiring sight, although some might describe it as more 'theatrical' than 'natural.'   Here is how it was described in an issue of The Gardeners' Magazine, dated 15th September, 1888:

'This is a noble construction, in agreement throughout with the characteristics of the new red sandstone or triassic.   The imitation is so perfect that we have to assure ourselves of its artificiality, the great blocks being so admirably modelled, and the dislocations adapted for the accommodation of plants, while having the complexion of perfect naturalness.   The planting is sufficient to give richness and variety without overloading it, for a rockery should display its rocks, as well as its Ivies and Brambles and Junipers and Ferns, which are here delightfully represented, with many lovely alpines to make a botanists' paradise of the scene.'

As far as we know, the rocks are entirely man-made - even the steps that lead up from one level to another - and this is perhaps rather surprising, considering that there were two Malvern Hill quarries within four miles of the site at the time the garden was built.

Fig 3 - Massive archway between the rocks

Fig 1 shows the view that greets the visitor when they approach the rock garden from the main path, and Fig 2 is of the Dropping Well, situated to the right of the main mass, under the shadow of the massive crags.   One of the huge archways is shown in Fig 3, while Fig 4 shows a rock, on the end of which is a distinct 'Pulham Face' - it may take a few minutes to spot this, but it is so obvious once you have!

Fig 4 - A 'Pulham Face' on the end of a rock at Madresfield

Fig 5 - From the Inscription Stone at Madresfield

Fig 6 - The fountain basin at Madresfield today, looking towards the East Wing of the house