Easton Lodge
Historical photograph: Charles Holme / Public Domain, modified.
Overview
The Japanese Garden at The Gardens of Easton Lodge is part of the early twentieth-century garden scheme designed by Harold Peto for Daisy, Countess of Warwick. The wider gardens are a Grade II registered historic garden and are described by The Gardens of Easton Lodge as the only example in East Anglia of Peto’s work. The Japanese garden was one of several themed areas in Peto’s 1902 design, alongside formal lawns, a sunken Italian garden, a yew walk, a glade and a treehouse.
History
In 1902, Daisy, Countess of Warwick, commissioned Harold Peto to redesign the gardens at Easton Lodge. Historic England confirms that Lady Warwick commissioned Peto to create an elaborate setting for the north side of the house, while Easton Lodge’s own garden history states that Peto’s 1902 designs included a Japanese garden. The garden later suffered major decline, especially after the demolition of Easton Lodge in the twentieth century, but parts of the historic garden have since been restored by volunteers and the owners of Warwick House.
Design features
The Japanese garden belongs to Peto’s broader Edwardian design language, which mixed architectural garden features with Italianate, French and Japanese influences. Easton Lodge’s own description notes that Peto brought his passion for Japanese designs and architectural features into the scheme. Current garden material identifies the Japanese garden as one of the recognisable areas within the restored site, though the available public descriptions are less detailed about individual Japanese elements than they are for the Italian garden and formal features.
Garden elements
Buildings
Waters and islands
Current status
Partially restored historic garden; Japanese garden area survives / has been restored as part of the wider Gardens of Easton Lodge