History of Grimsthorpe Topiary

THE HISTORY OF TOPIARY AT GRIMSTHORPE

Not much is known about the history of the topiary here at Grimsthorpe. It is believed that the topiary on the South Lawn was introduced between 1904 and 1910 under the direction of Gilbert Henry Heathcote, 1^st Earl of Ancaster and 25^th Lord Willoughby de Eresby with his wife, Lady Evelyn, Countess of Ancaster. Prior to this, the area was likely to be simply lawns and woodland, as it is beyond the topiary squares today.

The photographs show the herbaceous border in the 1970s, and the topiary in the snow at about the same time.

These photographs show the topiary circa 1980s.