Gardens & Watermill
Hestercombe is situated on the southern slopes of the Quantock Hills with extensive views over the Vale of Taunton to the Blackdown Hills beyond.
Much of the character of the buildings and gardens at Hestercombe is derived from the local stone that lies close to the surface and frequently outcrops.
Dark pink diorite, a dense igneous rock, which was used both in the eighteenth and nineteenth century gardens and to face the west front of Hestercombe House, occures only rarely in Somerset. It is complemented by silvery-grey morte slate, a sedimentary sandstone, which is used to striking effect in the Formal Gardens.
Paradise restored
With over fifty acres of lakes, temples, cascades, woodland walks, formal terraces, vivid colours and views that take your breathe away it is no wonder that Hestercombe is visited by over 70,000 people a year for the gardens, food, events, art exhibitions, weddings, parties and conferences.
Hestercombe is a unique combination of three period gardens - the LANDSCAPE GARDEN was created in the 1750s by soldier and artist, Coplestone Warre Bampfylde, renowned as having "the finest taste for laying out ground of any man in England". Bampfylde's vision was complemented with the addition of a VICTORIAN TERRACE and SHRUBBERY in the 1870s and followed by the creation of the beautiful EDWARDIAN GARDENS designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll between 1904 and 1908.
These world famous gardens, all once abandoned, have now been lovingly restored.
And the work continues...
17th century Watermill - paradise re-cycled
Work began on the £1.6m project to restore the 17th century watermill and outbuildings in January 2009. The official opening took place in April of 2010 with the great great grandson of the last Mrs Portman of Hestercombe House, Viscount de Vesci, cutting the ribbon to declare the watermill in use again after 100 years.
This dramatic phase in the restoration of the estate provides an invaluable hand-on educational experience showing visitors how a historic property was renovated and restored demonstrating historic and modern energies working side-by-side.
Restored Energy Sources
A collection of energy sources dating from Victorian and Edwardian times are showcased in these 're-cycled' buildings. The water wheel itself is an over-shot wheel having been restored by leading mill wright, Martin Watts. The energy generated is used for demonstrations in the adjacent Mill Room crushing apples, grinding corn and cutting timber - activities that have all been prominent on the Estate over the centuries.
Hydro power from the water wheel is also powering the restored 1895 turbine that originally generated electricity for the Hestercombe Estate. The electricity was stored in glass batteries, many of which were unearthed during the development work.
The Dynamo House is to contain an acetylene plant which produced acetylene gas for the early gas lamps used in the House and a thermalume generator which produced gas from petrol and air - also to fuel the gas lamps. Taking pride of place in the centre of the Dynamo House is a huge, ornate Gas Holder, one of only two left in the country, used to store the gas.
As well as opening up exciting education opportunities, the new development also provides a stylish new venue for conferences, wedding and other big events.
The Woodland Barn
Work is continuing with landscaping the surrounding areas and completing interpretation inside the Mill Room and Dynamo House.
Look out for Mill Demonstration Days which are listed in our Events Diary for this year.
