Bensham Grove Garden

The former garden of Bensham Grove (HER 8251). There are several quotations from the Watson family who lived there relating to the garden: "My life at this time was a very idle one. It was hot summer weather and the temptations to loiter in the garden and eat gooseberries with Emily were too great to resist". "Our large garden - two and a half acres I think - was a great joy. Here we played Hide and Seek, climber trees and learned to drop from a great height" {Mary}. "..we played tennis a good deal… a new acquisition for us…". "When I was five years old I planted laburnum seeds… hoping the tree would grow quickly so that I could climb it. I also grew a few (very few) wild strawberries… these when ripe were carefully collected on a saucer and with perhaps 1d I bought cream and gave them to mother" {Mary}{1}. In the early 20th century, the chronicle describes this ‘picturesque garden’ as being one of its [Bensham Grove’s] most valuable and beautiful assets’. These grounds were originally all part of the gardens to Bensham Grove, home to the Watson (later Spence Watson) family, but are now predominantly given over to a public park. The lie of the land slopes gently towards the west, so that when the landscaping was created, as well as providing a lush and picturesque setting for the house, it would have afforded remarkable views in this direction. This is acknowledged in 2 advertisements To Be Let in the early 19th century – “commands a fine view of the vales of Ravensworth and Tyne”. These advertisements also describe ‘an extensive garden, well stocked with fruit and other trees’ and ‘a vinery, heated by steam &c’. When established, therefore, it had obviously enjoyed considerable investment, and the fashion for growing tender plants in glasshouses followed.
This description, together with the evidence from the 1st edition Ordnance Survey mapping, gives an interesting overall picture of the gardens. There appears to have been a kitchen garden to the immediate north west of the house, with a glasshouse in the corner of this plot. The attractive, enclosing orange brick walling surviving in this area supports this interpretation, with its inviting archway providing access as well as framing views. Further to the north west of this, further formally laid out plots could be an extension of the kitchen garden and/or an orchard. To the south, the land is open, with a small group of trees (possibly with aspirations to a modest arboretum) off-set from the centre, and a strong south-western boundary of what appear to be substantial mature trees. It is likely that a wild garden may have been located in this area, however, as it is recorded that the family picked wild strawberries. To the front of the house at this time the arrangement is rather informal, with a few scattered trees.
During the later 19th century, it may well have been influenced by the naturalistic landscaping at Saltwell Towers, as Robert Spence Watson was doing work to house around the time Saltwell Park was opened, as well as unveiling a stature there.
Even at this time, whilst the Spence Watsons were in residence, the garden was enjoyed by many, as the family were known for entertaining people from all walks of life, and it was therefore a valuable green space in a densely built-up, industrialised area. A later letter to the editor of The Friend (a Quaker journal) describes how ‘with its large garden set in the midst of an overcrowded district, Bensham Grove can yet continue to make a valuable contribution to the social life of a town which is lacking in beauty’. When the Bensham Grove Settlement was established in 1919, the aim was ‘to provide a centre for educational, social and recreational activities’, and the garden played a significant part in this aim. The initial proposals for the Settlement suggest that ‘the garden would be invaluable for rest and recreation, and might be used for teaching the beast methods of working allotments’ and the first Warden’s Report asserts – ‘our garden offers great attractions to our neighbours of all ages.’ The ideals of the proposals were realised, as staff from Armstrong College gave lectures on gardening, and members of the men’s club were able to work plots in the garden, learning valuable skills. The garden was the setting for tennis (1 court was present at this time, although there were plans to introduce another as it was so popular), and it seems there were regular football matched every weekend. The gardens were used for summer fetes and many other gatherings, and, interestingly, open-air drama productions by the group of amateur players who were based at the Settlement. Photographs surviving from these events appear to show that the trees in front of the house had been cleared to make way for an open lawn, but that there were still some substantial trees, probably those to the south west boundary. In January 1937 guidelines were prepared for the allocation and care of the gardens, which argue that unemployed men only should be given the opportunity to apply for a plot. This clearly indicates the value of the resource in an area where unemployment was a problem. They mention greenhouses, shrubs, lawns and paths, and an earlier report also mentions seeds, plants, bulbs and garden chairs – indicating that aesthetic and leisure aspects as well as food production were considered important.
Species now present are mainly deciduous, including silver birch, beech and ash (?), but there is a fine holly tree near to the house itself. The current feel is of a modest, informal park, providing valuable open space to the local area and, importantly, an attractive setting to the Listed house. It would be positive if an opportunity arose to do detailed research on the historic garden design, and the disparate parts of the garden reunited as part of a restoration programme. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
When the Settlement was first establishes, an initial trial with local youths tending the kitchen garden, was found to be unsatisfactory in terms of productivity, and so the responsibility for tending the gardens was passed onto the Men’s Club. During WWII an air raid shelter was built in the grounds. MATERIALS / SPECIES Brick walls, holly, silver birch, beech, ash DATES Established c1819 LOCAL LIST