Information for record number MWA12876:
Guy's Cliffe garden, Warwick

Summary Early 19th century gardens and pleasure grounds in part designed by Uvedale Price, which were developed from 17th century riverside walks and mid 18th centruy rococo gardens.
What Is It?  
Type: Formal Garden, Landscape Park, Kitchen Garden, Drive, Ha Ha, Walk, Garden Terrace
Period: Modern - Modern (1600 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Leek Wootton and Guys Cliffe
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 29 66
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Registered Park or Garden (Grade: II)
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Guy's Cliffe 56 heactre site is bounded to the south by late 20th century domestic properties in Blacklow Road, Oakwood Grove, and Millbank, while to the south-east it adjoins agricultural land. To the north-west, Blacklow Hill is separated from the historic core of the estate by the mid 20th century A46 Warwick bypass. The entrance is marked by an ornamental timber and wrought-iron gate supported by tall stone piers surmounted by stone urn finials. To the south of the entrance stands a two-storey picturesque Tudor-gothic stone lodge. Beyond the entrance the drive sweeps north-east through the pleasure grounds to reach a mid 18th century monumental stone triumphal arch. To the east of the arch the drive continues below the south facade of the House to reach a stable court enclosed to the south and east by sheer rock into which is cut a series of entrances leading to subterranean stores and stables. At the eastern end of the court a monumental archway cut into the rock leads to a further large cavern. Immediately south of the lodge a further entrance leads from Coventry Road giving access to a service drive which extends 150m east to reach a junction. From this point a short drive leads north to the mid 18th century stable yard, while another drive leads south-east for 150m to reach the early 19th century Dairy Farm. PRINCIPAL BUILDING Guy's Cliffe House is in a ruinous condition, with only the service quarters and chapel to the east of the main House remaining in use. GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS The GARDENs and pleasure grounds extend to the north-west, west, and south-east of the House, with walks extending along the bank of the River Avon. To the south-west of the House the entrance drive passes through an area of informal pleasure grounds comprising lawns and groups of evergreen shrubbery and specimen trees. The Coventry Road to the west is screened by an earth embankment similarly planted with trees and shrubs which extends 170m north from the entrance to the southern end of the clairvoie at the west end of an avenue of mature pines which is aligned on the west facade of the House. The clairvoie comprises a central ha-ha wall flanked by tall stone piers surmounted by ball finials. The opening is adjoined to north and south by higher stone walls in which are set a pair of arched doorways closed by timber doors. To the east the avenue is terminated by the gravel car park below the west facade of the House. Set at a slightly higher level than the avenue, this area corresponds to the early 19th century flower garden or Blackamoor GARDEN, named after a lead sundial in the form of a kneeling slave. To the north of the avenue, 50m north-west of the House, Guy's Well is set into the slope below the avenue. Guy's Well comprises a round-arched opening surmounted by a carved stone shield. The opening leading to the Well or spring is closed by late 19th century gates. The area to the north of the avenue and Guy's Well comprises an informal lawn enclosed to the west by mature trees and shrubbery through which a serpentine walk passes, while to the east the lawn is bounded by the River Avon. Some 100m north-north-west of Guy's Well stands a mid 20th century House which is approached by a mid 20th century drive leading south-east from a 19th century entrance at the north-west corner of the site. To the north the lawn is enclosed by a stone wall and shrubbery which separate it from a drive leading east from the Coventry Road to Guy's Cliffe Mill. The Mill forms an eyecatcher at the northern end of the pleasure grounds and was designed to be seen from the principal rooms of the House. Below the east facade of the Mill a terrace planted with mature London planes has a parapet constructed from monolithic rocks. The terrace extends east to reach two late 20th century timber footbridges which cross the River Avon to give access to a footpath leading to Old Milverton. From the Mill a riverside walk extends south, passing below steep stone walls retaining the terrace below the west facade of the House, and the steep slope below the north facade. The walk continues along the river bank south-east of the House, passing below a rocky cliff face which is planted with mature specimen trees and evergreen shrubbery. Some 50m south-east of the chapel a cave, known as Guy's cave, is cut into the cliff. This cave is traditionally held to have been the residence of the legendary Guy, Earl of Warwick, who retired to live as a hermit at Guy's Cliffe. The walk continues south-east along the river for 200m beyond the cave, passing after 180m the site of an early 19th century boathouse. The riverside walk extends 200m east and south of the site of the boathouse to reach a former quarry 500m south-east of the House. At a junction south-east of the site of the boathouse a walk ascends the north-facing slope to give access to a further walk which returns to the carriage court south of the House along the top of the cliff. A further walk 40m south of Fair Felice's walk leads north-west towards the stables, before turning north to emerge adjacent to the triumphal arch south-west of the House. PARK Three separate areas of PARKland are associated with Guy's Cliffe. The west- and south-facing slopes to the north and east of the River Avon north of the House are today in mixed agricultural cultivation. A second area of PARKland lies to the south of the House and pleasure grounds adjacent to the Dairy Farm. Remaining pasture with scattered mature specimen trees, this area is bounded to the west by the Coventry Road and to the south by a public footpath which separates it from mid 20th century Houses which encroach on the early 19th century PARK. Late 20th century post and rail fences divide this area into paddocks and gallops. A further area of PARKland is situated to the west of Coventry Road. This area remains pasture with scattered trees set among extensive areas of ridge and furrow. To the north it is bounded by a mixed ornamental plantation which contains a shallow marshy depression known as the 'Como Pit'. The dam at the eastern end of the depression, formerly retaining a stream to form a pool, has been breached. KITCHEN GARDEN The KITCHEN GARDEN is situated to the west of Coventry Road at a point opposite the lodge and principal entrance to the House. The GARDEN is today a commercial nursery and is approached from Coventry Road by a track. The GARDEN is approximately rectangular on plan and is enclosed by brick walls under stone copings. To the north-west a group of brick BUILDINGs, bothies and cottages survive together with scattered mature fruit trees. OTHER LAND Some 400m north of the Como Pit, and separated from the western PARKland by the mid 20th century A46 Warwick bypass, the south-facing slope of Blacklow Hill is planted with mixed woodland. Within this woodland, 800m north-west of the House, a tall stone cross set on a stepped base and four tall stone piers is surrounded by mature specimen trees and evergreen shrubbery. The cross bears an inscription commemorating the execution of piers Gaveston, favourite of Edward II, on this spot in July 1312.
2 Guy's Cliffe, Warwick. Lovie reports pleasure grounds with mixed planting, walks and riverside walk to Mill, and terrace walk above river to Southeast, drive, lodge, avenue, Guy's cave, Guy's Well, and KITCHEN GARDEN to West of Road. House in divided ownership at time of Lovie's report (1996/7). Edwardian GARDENs now also divided.
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Register Review Data Tables (Warwick)
Author/originator: Lovie, Jonathan
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Registered Park or Garden Parks and gardens that are considered to be of historic importance are placed on a register. The register comprises a variety of town gardens, public parks and country estates. The main purpose of the register is to help ensure that the features and qualities that make the parks and gardens special are safeguarded if changes are being considered which could affect them.

The gardens on the register are divided into three grades in order to give some guidance about their significance, in a similar way to Listed Buildings. The majority of parks and gardens on the Register are of sufficient interest as to be designated as grade II. Some, however, are recognised as being of exceptional historic interest and are awarded a star giving them grade II* status. A small number are of international importance, and are classified as grade I.
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period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument PADDOCK * An enclosed field for horses. back
monument SERPENTINE WALK * A winding walk, common in early 18th century Rococo gardens and parks. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument KITCHEN GARDEN * A private garden established primarily for growing vegetables and herbs for domestic consumption. back
monument CAVE * A subterranean feature entered from a hillside, cliff face, etc. A cave may have been used for occupation, storage, burial, refuse, or as a hide-away. Index with site type or objects where known. back
monument CARVED STONE * A stone (including standing stones, natural boulders and rock outcrops) decorated with carved motifs. back
monument COMMERCIAL * This is the top term for the class. See COMMERCIAL Class list for narrow terms. back
monument LODGE * A small building, often inhabited by a gatekeeper, gamekeeper or similar. Use specific type where known. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument RIDGE AND FURROW * A series of long, raised ridges separated by ditches used to prepare the ground for arable cultivation. This was a technique, characteristic of the medieval period. back
monument ROCOCO GARDEN * Garden comprising rockwork features including grottoes, cascades and arches, often in different architectural styles ie. Gothic, Chinese and rustic. In use from the mid C18. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FORMAL GARDEN * A garden of regular, linear or geometrical design, often associated with the traditional Italian, French and Dutch styles. back
monument PARK * An enclosed piece of land, generally large in area, used for hunting, the cultivation of trees, for grazing sheep and cattle or visual enjoyment. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument MILL * A factory used for processing raw materials. Use more specific mill type where known. See also TEXTILE MILL, for more narrow terms. back
monument URN * A garden ornament, usually of stone or metal, designed in the the form of a vase used to receive the ashes of the dead. back
monument EMBANKMENT * A long ridge of earth, rocks or gravel primarily constructed to carry a roadway. back
monument FAIR * A site where a periodical gathering of buyers, sellers and entertainers, meet at a time ordained by charter or statute or by ancient custom. back
monument FACADE * Use wider site type where known. Only use term where no other part of original building survives. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument NURSERY * A room or a building set aside for infants and young children. back
monument WALK * A place or path for walking in a park or garden. Use more specific type where possible. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument TRIUMPHAL ARCH * A large free-standing arch erected to commemorate a triumph or victory. back
monument PASTURE * A field covered with herbage for the grazing of livestock. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument FLOWER GARDEN * A garden in which flower beds are the primary focal point. back
monument PIER * A structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into the sea and used as a promenade and landing stage. back
monument CAR PARK * A place where cars and other road vehicles may be parked and left. back
monument DAIRY * A building or group of buildings used for the making, processing, storing and selling of milk and other dairy products. back
monument FOOTBRIDGE * A narrow bridge for people and animals to cross on foot. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument LANDSCAPE PARK * Grounds, usually associated with a country house, laid out so as to produce the effect of natural scenery back
monument SUNDIAL * A structure used to show the time of day by means of the sun shining on a 'gnomon', the shadow of which falls on the surface of the dial which is marked with a diagram showing the hours. Can be freestanding, usually on a pillar, or fixed to a building. back
monument STABLE * A building in which horses are accommodated. back
monument PLANTATION * A group of planted trees or shrubs, generally of uniform age and of a single species. back
monument MARSH * A low lying area of land that is usually waterlogged at all times and is flooded in wet weather. back
monument HA HA * A dry ditch or sunken fence which divided the formal garden from the landscaped park without interrupting the view. back
monument ROUND * A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument SPRING * A point where water issues naturally from the rock or soil onto the ground or into a body of surface water. back
monument QUARRY * An excavation from which stone for building and other functions, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc. back
monument GATE * A movable stucture which enables or prevents entrance to be gained. Usually situated in a wall or similar barrier and supported by gate posts. back
monument GARDEN TERRACE * A flat, level area of ground within a garden. Often raised and accessed by steps. back
monument LAWN * A flat, and usually level area of mown and cultivated grass, attached to a house. back
monument STREAM * A natural flow or current of water issuing from a source. back
monument FOOTPATH * A path for pedestrians only. back
monument FARM * A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FENCE * A construction of wood or metal used to enclose an area of land, a building, etc. back
monument SHRUBBERY * A plantation of shrubs. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument DOMESTIC * This is the top term for the class. See DOMESTIC Class List for narrow terms. back
monument DAM * A barrier of concrete or earth, etc, built across a river to create a reservoir of water for domestic and/or industrial usage. back
monument TERRACE * A row of houses attached to and adjoining one another and planned and built as one unit. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record