Sheringham Park
Encyclopedia
Sheringham Park is a landscape park and gardens near the town of Sheringham
, Norfolk
, England. The park surrounds Sheringham Hall and has a grid reference
of . The Hall is privately occupied, but Sheringham Park is in the care of the National Trust
and open to visitors.
The park was designed by Humphry Repton
who presented his proposals in July 1812 in the form of one of his Red Books. He described Sheringham as his Abbot and Charlotte Upcher bought the Estate in 1811, and successive generations of the Upcher family did much to develop the estate, the Hall and the park, as well as building a school
.
There are fine mature woodland
s and a large variety of rhododendron
s and azalea
s. In the early 20th century Henry Morris Upcher obtained rhododendron seeds of various types from plantsman
Ernest "Chinese" Wilson
. Plants from this source which can found at the garden include Rhododendron ambiguum, calophytum and decorum, among others. Many other species of tree and shrub are represented in the garden,including fifteen kinds of magnolia
, large specimen pieris
. Among the other trees are maples
, acers, styrax
, eucryphia
, Pocket Handkerchief Tree davidia involucrata and a fine example of the Snowdrop Tree Halesia
. Several overlook towers provide good views over the gardens, and of the nearby coast and surrounding countryside. A garden temple
was constructed in the Park in 1975.
, 5 miles west of Cromer
and 6 miles east of Holt
. The main entrance is at the junction of the A148
Cromer to Holt road and the B1157 road to Upper Sheringham
. The Norfolk Coast Path passes through the property. A car park, cafe and visitor centre are near the main entrance. Waymarked
paths through the estate link the gardens and visitors centre to the coast, and to the Weybourne
station on the North Norfolk Railway
, a preserved steam railway. Pedestrian access to the park is from the village of Upper Sheringham
, which is adjacent to the park.
The exhibition area explores the life and work of the landscape architect Humphrey Repton and also of the Upcher family who owned the park. There are several examples of Humphrey Repton’s red book of plans for the designs of the park. Part of the exhibition area has an area dedicated to the wildlife and nature of the park with identification games and interactive displays.
The Regency
, Grade II listed building is finished in grey, gault, Lincolnshire
brick was designed and built by Humphry Repton and his architect son, John Adey Repton. Due to the Norfolk coast's glacial winds, Repton chose a south facing site in the lee of a wooded hillside. In July 1813 the Upcher family laid the foundation stones and the family hoped to move into the house in the summer of 1817, but the owner of the estate Abbot Upcher fell ill and died in 1819 at the age of 35. The hall remained empty for 20 years until Henry Ramey Upcher completed the house in 1839.
The hall's 71-year lease is currently for sale at £2.35 million.
Sheringham
Sheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns"....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England. The park surrounds Sheringham Hall and has a grid reference
British national grid reference system
The Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references used in Great Britain, different from using latitude and longitude....
of . The Hall is privately occupied, but Sheringham Park is in the care of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and open to visitors.
The park was designed by Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton was the last great English landscape designer of the eighteenth century, often regarded as the successor to Capability Brown; he also sowed the seeds of the more intricate and eclectic styles of the 19th century...
who presented his proposals in July 1812 in the form of one of his Red Books. He described Sheringham as his Abbot and Charlotte Upcher bought the Estate in 1811, and successive generations of the Upcher family did much to develop the estate, the Hall and the park, as well as building a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
.
There are fine mature woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s and a large variety of rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
s and azalea
Azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...
s. In the early 20th century Henry Morris Upcher obtained rhododendron seeds of various types from plantsman
Plantsman
A plantsman is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener , nurseryman or nurserywoman. "Plantsman" can refer to a male or female person, though the terms plantswoman, or even plantsperson, are sometimes used....
Ernest "Chinese" Wilson
Ernest Henry Wilson
Ernest Henry "Chinese" Wilson , better known as E. H. Wilson, was a notable English plant collector who introduced a large range of about 2000 of Asian plant species to the West; some sixty bear his name.-Career:...
. Plants from this source which can found at the garden include Rhododendron ambiguum, calophytum and decorum, among others. Many other species of tree and shrub are represented in the garden,including fifteen kinds of magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
, large specimen pieris
Pieris (plant)
Pieris is a genus of seven species of shrubs in the family Ericaceae, native to mountain regions of eastern and southern Asia, eastern North America and Cuba. Known commonly as andromedas or fetterbushes, they are broad-leaved evergreen shrubs growing to 1–6 m tall and wide...
. Among the other trees are maples
Maples
-People:* Chauncy Maples , British Anglican missionary and bishop in Africa* John Maples, Baron Maples , British politician* Marla Maples , American actress, former wife of Donald Trump...
, acers, styrax
Styrax
Styrax is a genus of about 130 species of large shrubs or small trees in the family Styracaceae, mostly native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the majority in eastern and southeastern Asia, but also crossing the equator in South America...
, eucryphia
Eucryphia
Eucryphia is a small genus of trees or large shrubs of the Antarctic flora, native to the south temperate regions of South America and coastal eastern Australia. Traditionally placed in a family of their own, the Eucryphiaceae, more recent classifications place them in the Cunoniaceae. There are...
, Pocket Handkerchief Tree davidia involucrata and a fine example of the Snowdrop Tree Halesia
Halesia
Halesia , also known as is a small genus of four or five species of deciduous large shrubs or small trees in the family Styracaceae, native to eastern Asia and eastern North America...
. Several overlook towers provide good views over the gardens, and of the nearby coast and surrounding countryside. A garden temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
was constructed in the Park in 1975.
Location
Sheringham Park is located 2 miles south west of the coastal town of SheringhamSheringham
Sheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns"....
, 5 miles west of Cromer
Cromer
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...
and 6 miles east of Holt
Holt, Norfolk
Holt is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is north of the city of Norwich, west of Cromer and east of King's Lynn. The town is on the route of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road. The nearest railway station is in the town of Sheringham where access to the...
. The main entrance is at the junction of the A148
A148 road
The A148 is an English A road entirely in the county of Norfolk. It runs from King's Lynn to Cromer via Fakenham which it bypasses to the north.-King’s Lynn starting point:...
Cromer to Holt road and the B1157 road to Upper Sheringham
Upper Sheringham
Upper Sheringham is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk . The village is North-north-west of Norwich, west of Cromer and north-north-east of London. The village is from the town of Sheringham. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which...
. The Norfolk Coast Path passes through the property. A car park, cafe and visitor centre are near the main entrance. Waymarked
Waymarking
Waymarking is an activity where people locate and log interesting locations around the world, usually with a GPS receiver and a digital camera. Waymarking differs from geocaching in that there is no physical container to locate at the given coordinates. Waymarking identifies points of interest for...
paths through the estate link the gardens and visitors centre to the coast, and to the Weybourne
Weybourne
Weybourne is a fishing resort on the North Norfolk and has the postcode prefix of NR25. The village straddles the A149 coast road and is three miles west of Sheringham, within the Norfolk Coast AONB. Weybourne is mentioned in the Domesday book and in that survey it is called Wabrume...
station on the North Norfolk Railway
North Norfolk Railway
The North Norfolk Railway – also known as the "Poppy Line" – is a heritage steam railway in Norfolk, England, running between the coastal town of Sheringham and Holt, It cuts through the countryside to the east of Weybourne with views of its windmill and passes through the well preserved country...
, a preserved steam railway. Pedestrian access to the park is from the village of Upper Sheringham
Upper Sheringham
Upper Sheringham is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk . The village is North-north-west of Norwich, west of Cromer and north-north-east of London. The village is from the town of Sheringham. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which...
, which is adjacent to the park.
Visitor centre
The visitor centre is located within Wood Farm Barn at the southern end of the park, the barn also houses an exhibition the history and the wildlife of Sheringham Park. There is a reception desk and information kiosk. From the reception there are hearing loops available. There are also wheelchairs and powered mobility vehicles available at no charge although it is necessary to take a small test before use. The refreshment kiosk is also at Wood Farm Barn.The exhibition area explores the life and work of the landscape architect Humphrey Repton and also of the Upcher family who owned the park. There are several examples of Humphrey Repton’s red book of plans for the designs of the park. Part of the exhibition area has an area dedicated to the wildlife and nature of the park with identification games and interactive displays.
Sheringham Hall
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
, Grade II listed building is finished in grey, gault, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
brick was designed and built by Humphry Repton and his architect son, John Adey Repton. Due to the Norfolk coast's glacial winds, Repton chose a south facing site in the lee of a wooded hillside. In July 1813 the Upcher family laid the foundation stones and the family hoped to move into the house in the summer of 1817, but the owner of the estate Abbot Upcher fell ill and died in 1819 at the age of 35. The hall remained empty for 20 years until Henry Ramey Upcher completed the house in 1839.
The hall's 71-year lease is currently for sale at £2.35 million.
External links
- Sheringham Park information at the National Trust
- Eco-friendly visitor centre
- Eastern Daily Press article
Further reading
- Repton, Humphry,Sheringham Red Book, facsimile edition, Basilisk Press, 1976