None recorded

Park or garden

Coherent areas of land designed and/or managed for leisure purposes.

Asset type

Nineteenth century gardens and landscaped park at Greenlands House.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Architectural interest: A largely complete ensemble of buildings for a C19 country villa focussed on the villa (listed Grade II*) which was developed in three main phases from c.1810, and in the early 1850s and 1870s with some later alterations. It has since 1946 been enclosed to the north and east by college buildings. Other estate structures are typical ancillary buildings including the two lodges and gateways (1870s), stables, kitchen garden walls (1850s and 1870s) and gardener’s house (1870s listed Grade II). Lesser garden structures include stone steps and the timber boathouse. The glasshouses, fountain and circular summerhouse at the east end of the formal riverside walk have gone, along with the belvedere that formed a landmark above the mansion roofs. Artistic interest: The layout is typical of a substantial C19 Thames-side villa park and pleasure grounds and survives largely intact. The earliest layout, the pleasure ground terrace and informal lawns surrounding the villa, are set in the later parkland with a lake and drive. The site contains many fine mature trees framing vistas over and along the Thames to the rural Chiltern setting. The design makes maximum use of the Thames as a feature and the site is best seen from the river. Areas of the pleasure grounds north and east of the villa have been lost to later C20 and C21 college buildings and areas of lawn are car parking. The boundary of the old kitchen garden survives but within are recent college buildings; to the north the new kitchen garden survives but is a car park.

Group Value

Greenlands is part of an important group of Thames-side villas along this stretch of the river, including Taplow Court, Cliveden, Harleyford, Danesfield, Wittington, Fawley Court (all in Bucks), Culham Court and Park Place (in Berkshire).

Historic Interest

The historic interest arises principally from associations with nationally significant owners, particularly from 1871-1891 with the newsagent and influential politician WH Smith, and with his successors as Viscounts Hambleden. A notable Civil War skirmish in which Parliamentarian forces razed the manor house occurred in 1644.

Archaeological Interest

The potential exists for evidence related to the former manor complex beneath the lawn, for evidence of the Civil War action, and for the C18 farmhouse to the north as well as former agricultural uses of the park. Lost garden and park features may relate to paths, walls, beds, kitchen garden structures, garden buildings including a circular summerhouse, and other features evident on maps and images. Evidence may survive relating to the uses of the river since prehistoric times.

Landmark Status

The parkland is visible from the A4155 Henley Road, whilst the house and pleasure grounds are visible across the river from Remenham Lane and are prominent in panoramic views from Remenham Hill.

11 Jan 2023

11 Jan 2023

Find out more about this Asset in Buckinghamshire's Local Heritage List:
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/buckinghamshire/asset/3050