Boughton is the Northamptonshire residence of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. Together with its magnificent buildings, the Grade 1 Registered Landscape surrounding Boughton House is often referred to as “The English Versailles”. The gardens, laid out at the beginning of 18th century by 2nd Duke of Montagu, are the most intact surviving example of an early formal garden in the British Isles.
We were commissioned to carry out a detailed survey of the historic landscape – both the formal gardens and the surrounding walled deer park which extends to some 480 acres. Our work included an examination of the estate archives and detailed analysis of a unique collection of extremely accurate estate maps and surveys dating from the late 17th century onwards. In addition, we carried out extensive fieldwork across the site in order to identify and record the surviving historic landscape features and ecological values.
We presented this information as a Restoration Management Plan for the core area of the 11,000 acre estate. The Plan included a range of Landscape Management Objectives which were described within 13 major restoration projects and more than 90 individual prescriptions. In addition to this, we identified the individual works needed to conserve, repair and renew the landscape and laid this out within a fully costed ten year programme schedule.
As a second phase of work, we were commissioned to carry out a detailed analysis of the evolution of over 72 miles of avenue system across the estate. We focused particularly upon any potential impact there might be on this Grade 1 registered landscape, from the expansion of the nearby Kettering.
