Historic England protection for Grade II listed Fontwell garden

Once part of Lord Denman’s Westergate Estate, Denmans Garden has been given Grade II listed status and placed on the National Heritage List for England.

Joyce Robinson, who lived in the gardener’s cottage from 1947 until her death in 1996, originally transformed Denmans into a market garden, but later converted it into an ornamental garden before John Brookes took over management in 1984.

Over the next 34 years John integrated his own style with Joyce’s planting style and retaining the two dry river beds she created.

The garden now is in private hands but the goal is to make it financially self-supporting and to transfer Denmans into the John Brookes-Denmans Foundation, which was set up before John died in 2018.

Gwendolyn van Paasschen, chairman of the John Brookes-Denmans Foundation, said: “We have worked tirelessly to restore this amazing place so being listed is an affirmation of the garden’s place in history and will help to secure its future. It is a unique, modern garden that reflects design trends that are unquestionably relevant for designers and gardeners today.”

Peter Gillespie, a long-time friend and design colleague of John’s and a trustee of the John Brookes-Denmans Foundation, said: “The designation by Historic England and the Gardens Trust is a significant milestone in the continued restoration and preservation of this important garden and the legacies of John Brookes and Joyce Robinson.”

He added that the ‘extraordinary amount of work that has been done in the past two and a half years to restore Denmans has been amazing and will continue’.

The foundation and the dedicated team of gardeners, volunteers, and staff at Denmans are committed to restoring the garden and to ensure it remains open to the public for years to come.

At the heart of this effort is a commitment to preserve the sense of serenity and beauty that Joyce Robinson and John Brookes so loved about the garden.

For more information visit www.denmans.org

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