Rignalls
Location/Address
None recorded
Type
Description
Early twentieth century gardens with planting scheme by Gertrude Jekyll within an Arts and Crafts framework by Adams and Holden which is largely unchanged.
A compact, complex Arts and Crafts garden for a smaller country house built to designs by Adams and Holden. Planting advice by Gertrude Jekyll is recorded in an extensive series of plans, but it is unclear to what extent these were executed. The layout includes formal terraced lawns and garden compartments, designed to accommodate the steep Chiltern slope, with a complex flight of stone steps and landings, and a brick and timber pergola leading to a summer house, also including a kitchen garden with structures by Woods of Taplow, informal orchard designed by Miss Jekyll, and mature
Chiltern beechwood as a backdrop above. The layout and garden structures largely survive, although the garden has been divided into two unequal halves, with some early woody planting, but not apparently the Jekyll planting.
Detailed description in Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust report.
Statement of Significance
Asset type
Early twentieth century gardens at Rignall's Wood, designed by Gertrude Jekyll.Architectural and Artistic Interest
Architectural interest: A largely complete ensemble of buildings for an early C20 smaller country house. It was designed in a single phase with the garden layout including walls, a pergola and summer house by notable architects Adams and Holden, with associated lodge, and a lost stable, coach house and racquet court which stood to the west between the lodge and house, and lost paths, structures including glasshouses, beds, and other features in the kitchen garden. Artistic interest: A complex Arts and Crafts style garden in a relatively compact area forming the setting for a smaller country house. The Adams and Holden layout responds to the steep valley slope with a series of formal terraced garden compartments below the house, contrasting with informal embanked lawns and mature woodland above the house, and the largely unaltered rural Chiltern setting. A number of planting plans were produced by Gertrude Jekyll, one of the most prolific and influential early C20 garden designers, but it is unclear to what extent they were executed; elements of the early planting survive, including perhaps some woody garden plants and the mature beech and hornbeam wood above.Group Value
Group value with other sites in Bucks with work by Miss Jekyll including Woodside, Barton Hartshorn, Pednor, Little Haling, though much of her planting in many cases has gone but is recorded in plans.Historic Interest
The site has been associated with various notable owners and occupiers including the physician Sir Felix Semon for whom it was developed, and a member of the free French Government in Exile in World War II, Alfred Boucher. The historic interest is considerably increased by the survival of at least 27 plans documenting the early development of the garden, 1909‐10, with planting plans by Gertrude Jekyll as well as letters between the architects and Jekyll.Archaeological Interest
The identified archaeology is of local significance as far as it is understood. Archaeological potential relates to the former agricultural use of the site and the Chiltern woodland in the northern section, as well as lost features relating to the early C20 layout, particularly the former stable yard, stable, coach house and racquet court which stood to the west between the lodge and house, and lost paths, structures including glasshouses, beds, and other features in the former kitchen garden.Landmark Status
Rignalls is a landmark on a hillside on the drive from Missenden towards Butlers Cross. The garden is terraced and visible from the road, dominated by the distinctive house on its own.Images and Documents
Date Listed
11 Jan 2023
Last Updated
11 Jan 2023