The restoration of Chawton House and estate has been ongoing since 1994.

Restoration of Chawton House

This is a brief overview of the restoration process which is currently being expanded.

The outbuildings were restored in 1996 and became the Estate Offices and workshop. During 1998-99, Phase I on the building work started on the house when the roof was stripped and major timber repairs carried out and the Billiard wing was demolished. In 2000 the drive was lowered and the pumphouse and its machinery restored. In 2001 work began on the south range fitout and west range roof. In the oak room the hidden window was opened up and in the librarian's office next door a leather telescope was discovered in a secret cupboard. Later in the year restoration of the north range and internal repairs to the west range was started. Extensive dry rot was discovered and brickwork had to be removed so that the timber could be removed, treated and rebuilt. In 2002 work began on a barn to accommodate four shire horses, a tack room and a hayloft. Also in 2002 restoration work began on the west range. Chawton House Library finally opened in July 2003. The Library houses more than 7,000 volumes which focus on women's writing in English from 1600 - 1830

Restoration of the Garden

South Lawn

During the period 1763-1785 Chawton House's formal gardens were swept away and replaced by the English Landscape style. As Jane Austen noted in Mansfield Park, this particular change tended to be both revolutionary and destructive producing a marked change in the garden history. The essence of the style was that the house should be surrounded by parkland with Arcadian lawns sweeping right up to the walls of the house in a naturalistic landscape. Views from and towards the house were very important and clumps of trees were placed, not only to avoid blocking views, but also to frame them. The grazing animals were an integral part of the landscape, keeping the grass short in the parkland with the impression that they could graze right up to the house - in reality they were controlled by a ha-ha. The south lawn and the views from and towards the house have been reinstated as closely as possible to the view depicted in the 1780 painting by Adam Callander. The view to the south west is open, crossed by the ha-ha. To the south, lies the 18th century wilderness. The lawn retains its informal character, as originally intended.

Library or Lower Terrace

The library terrace was built between 1896 and 1910 by Montagu Knight, most probably 1905-06, as part of his programme of 'restoration'. The terrace was actually an Arts and Crafts addition and almost certainly influenced by Edwin Lutyens. The original planting was of a typically rich, Edwardian character with herbaceous plants, flowering shrubs and scented plants such as lavender. In order to reduce the incongruity of an Edwardian terrace in the corner of an English Landscape garden, planting has been kept low key and the beds have been planted after the style of Gertrude Jekyll, in keeping witht he Arts and Crafts period. The terrace is enclosed by a wide, double skinned, malmstone and flint retaining wall with rubble infill and stone coping. Within the terrace, supporting the three levels, are three low retaining walls of similar construction but with flat terracotta tile copings. The principal Lutyen's details are the step risers made from old tiles and the two circular millstones with tile insets in the centre and around the outside, at the top and bottom of the terrace.

Serpentine Gravel Path

Gravel paths are not typical of the English Landscape period and were probably introduced by Edward Knight II. However, the reintroduced gravel path joining the library terrace, upper terrace, walled garden and running down to the edge of the park does allow dry walking around the garden. The straight path running along the back of the upper terrace was uncovered during 2000 and reinstated. This lower section of path running between the library and upper terraces is flanked by newly planted shrubberies which are to be allowed to establish naturally alongside the native wild flowers and plants.

Upper Terrace

According to Montagu Knight, the brick upper terrace was built in 1901; possibly designed by Edwin Lutyens. In the early 20th century this was a broad grass terrace with a central gravel path, recently uncovered. Roses and other climbers covered the brick retaining walls and balustrade of semi-circular tiles. An ornamental rockery flanked the eastern side. The northern end of the terrace was demolished by a falling beech tree in 1990. The upper terrace will be restored once funds are available.

Fernery

The fernery was originally a rockery with herbaceous planting, a rocky hollow and pool; part of the upper terrace. Little evidence of the rockery remains but the steps, pool and existing ferns are gradually being uncovered and supplemented by the planting of new ferns, with the help of volunteers.

Walled Garden

In Jane Austen's time the kitchen garden was in the piece of land to the north of the Rectory. Prior to that the great walled garden was to be found on the land to the south of the church, presumably swept away during the conversion to the English Landscape style. Edward Austen Knight had the idea to build a new walled garden during his sister's lifetime but his plans did not come to fruition until after her death in 1817. The walled garden was built in 1818-1822 as a kitchen garden with fruit trees on all the inner walls and on the outer sides of the south and east walls with a rectangle of apple trees alternating with soft fruits inside. The garden was fully enclosed by malmstone and brick walls with small doorways in each wall. At the end of the 19th century, Montagu Knight converted the kitchen garden to an ornamental flower garden, again with evidence of Lutyen's influence. Around the time of the First World War, Montagu introduced the additional, inner wall, with a pair of ornamental iron gates set in it and formed the larger opening in the outer west wall. More recently, the herbaceous borders were grassed over and the garden turned into an orchard. Today, with the exception of the large openings in the east and west walls, Edward Austen Knights original walls are still intact. The restoration programme for this area is major and requires funding and the support of volunteers. It is proposed to retain the existing layout of the walls, rebuild the glasshouses and potting sheds, replant the original varieties of fruit and use the central space for the production of vegetables, soft fruits, herbs and cut flowers. All produce will be organically grown and we will be seeking accreditation by the soil association. Produce will be for use by Chawton House and Chawton House Stables with any surplus sold in aid of the Charity. The major clearance of vegetation, scrub, weeds, general debris and the remains of glasshouses and potting sheds has already been undertaken allowing the planting of additional fruit trees, in accordance with Edward Austen Knight's original planting scheme. The walls require much repair and repointing preferably before the espaliered fruit trees against the walls become too well established, work can then begin on the reinstatement of the glasshouses.

Wilderness

The wilderness dates from the 17th/18th centuries, originally set out geometrically with trees in straight rows, a practice which was later dropped, and survived the English Landscape improvements. Informal paths were made through the wilderness in the 19th and 20th centuries. The wilderness is actually divided in two by the south lime avenue. The east wilderness area in particular has been cleared out and tidied and informal paths introduced which exploit the views into the park and across the lawn. Natural regeneration is managed and wild flora and fauna actively encouraged.

South Lime Avenue

The south lime avenue was planted by Montagu Knight during the second part of the 19th century. The avenue sustained much damage during the storms at the end of the 20th century. The avenue effect has been retained by planting clumps of trees in the park which, when viewed from the side, can be identified as discrete plantings. The views along the lime avenue are very impressive, especially in the spring when the avenue is carpeted with snowdrops, daffodils and then bluebells.

Ha-ha!

Originally introduced in 1860, the ha-ha was cleared during 2000 and the fence restored and reinstated. The ha-ha was the means of retaining the grazing animals in the park whilst giving the impression that they could graze right up to the house and without interrupting the views.

Church Copse

This area to the rear of St Nicholas Church was cleared during 1999 and 2000 revealing the Knight family pet cemetery and the lych gate into the church yard. Of particular interest in this area are the several large, important 18th century lime trees and a yew tree, probably from the same period. The eastern edge of the copse is bordered by a dense line of damson, which could be the remains of a hedge; damson was widely used in the past as a hedge around orchards. Additional shrubs have been planted and clearing and maintenance is ongoing.