Rose (member)  

Listing last updated on Wed Dec 2024

United Kingdom

Edwardian Rose Garden established in 1921 by Mr Gilliat Hatfeild now maintained and cared for by The National Trust.

Gilliat Hatfeild inherited Morden Hall park from his farther, who was a partner in a tobacco company in the late 1800's and in 1921 began to establish a rose garden in the grounds outside of Morden Cottage attached to the parks mill.
Rather than living in the grand hall at Morden Hall Park he chose to live in Morden Cottage so that he could be close to and look out over his beloved rose garden.

The rose garden beds are not symmetrical which was unusual for the time. There are photographs of Hatfeilds rose gardens but no surviving plans or lists of rose varieties. All that remains is a zinc rose tag naming 'Mme Caroline Testout' which was discovered on the site of the original pergola before it disappeared.
The photographs show beautifully planted beds, rambling roses trained up chestnut posts along the river, three rustic romantic bridges, a pergola and more unknown structures.

The gardens now host roughly 40 varieties of roses with approximately 1600 individual plants which are cared for by the lead gardener and a team of dedicated volunteers.