Worth Abbey
Quiet Garden

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A Brief History of the Garden

Photographs at the sale (1891) of the Paddockhurst Estate by Robert Whitehead to Viscount Cowdray (see Then & Now) show the concrete lined pond much as it is today but with few rocks around it and with wooden bridges. The lawns of 'The Park' go right to the edge of the figure-eight shaped pond. The engineer, Cowdray, had the boathouse, changing rooms, waterfall, bridges and the rocks constructed and planted. This boat house has given rise to, still persistent, legends in the school about Robert Whitehead testing his torpedoes in the pond (the hooks in the roof 'obviously' were used to lift the 'devils device' in and out of the water). When there were metal doors on the changing rooms, there were stories about a secret tunnel to the monastery.

The Gardener's Chronicle reported on the progress of Cowdray's gardens. These included specific mention, in April 17, 1897, of "a semi-wild spot under trees a hundred yards distant, directly south of the building" and again in December 1, 1900, "a lake and rockery have been constructed . . . planted with select Alpines and other plants". (see Chronicle)

In Worth Prep school days, the pond was used for swimming; hence some brick steps were built into the North corner of the larger part of the pond. There are photographs and ciné film in existence of boys using the pond. This was called to a halt when someone discovered that there was a leak of sewerage into the smaller part of the pond from the pipe feeding the 'sewerage farm' located to the South East of the Garden area. An attempt was made to confine the pollution by building a brick dam under the bridge at the 'neck' between the larger and smaller parts of the pond.

Following this, the gardens around the pond were largely neglected apart from a few monastery novices being sent down to cut weeds for 'manual labour'. In 1972 a group of three novices cleared most of the main area of six-foot tall brambles. The then Br Patrick continued to work largely alone for three years until his theological studies demanded more of his time. He rediscovered the plug to drain the pond and began to clear the accumulation of mud from half of the main pond and built up some of it to form an island. A consultation with the Sussex Trust for Nature Conservation recommended planting a tree with overhanging branches on the island to attract kingfishers that had been seen briefly in the Glen. There are many dragonflies breeding in the pond. A pair of Moorhen has been nesting regularly since the 80s. Later, when Fr Bede was Novice master, he took his novices to work there and used a tractor to build up the island further. To increase the flow of water through the pond, the storm-water outlet from the church complex was directed into the north of the pond where other field drains have long since been blocked.

Fr John stocked the pond with 25 goldfish in 1986, which have since multiplied to provide abundant food for a visiting Heron for the last two summers. A friend contributed a dozen Koi Carp to supplement the numbers. The survivors are adept at hiding under the weeds. The Canadian pondweed introduced in 1975 has been overtaken by many others varieties. The island also provides a safer environment for nesting ducks - Moorhen and Mallards are staying longer in the last few years, as well as an occasional goose pair. Fr Bede, as farm manager, built a fenced pathway from the main south terrace to the pond and lined it with daffodil bulbs.

Since 1997, the main garden weeds have been kept down and reduced by repeated strimming and mowing. Most of the rock paths have been uncovered from decades of leaf-mould and vigorous stinging-nettle roots. The rest of the rocks are currently being cleaned. Progressively, as labour permits, the garden areas will be cleared of weeds and made ready for replanting. In the winter of 98-9, with the advice of Steve Turner, Head Groundsman for Worth Abbey, tree surgeons felled a dozen or so large invasive trees to allow more light to the ground and other older trees were trimmed to make them safe. With the extra light and clearance of weeds, many bulbs have re-emerged giving a wonderful display in spring and early summer - Primroses, Bluebells, Cowslips, Cyclamen, Daffodils and many others are now spreading. There is a good variety of flowering shrubs and trees with colourful and varied foliage. In the pond, newts, tadpoles and even a swimming grass snake have been observed.

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Jesus said to them, "Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while." (Mark 6:31)