March 16
Copshaholm Gardens – Winter
Every Saturday, I share my weekly Artist Date.
This week, I spent some time in the gardens at Copshaholm where I am a docent. The links lead to two other posts I did about Copshaholm.
Copshaholm is the home built by J.D. Oliver for his family. J.D. Oliver’s father, James, developed processes to create a better plow and his the business eventually became the Oliver Chilled Plow Works.
The mansion was dubbed Copshaholm in honor of the birthplace of J.D. Oliver’s father, James. James was born near Newcastleton, Scotland. In ancient times, Newcastleton was called “Copshawolm” which literally means “clump of trees on a hill overlooking a river.”
The grounds consist of 2.5 acres of landscaped formal, informal and recreational areas. While changes were made to the grounds over the years, these were usually additions or stylistic changes that did not remove all traces of the previous design.
The 1890′s and early 20th century saw a tremendous growth in outdoor activities. Houses flowed out into their grounds with pergolas and walkways leading out to open terraces, recreation areas and teahouses.
The gardens as they exist today, began around 1907 when J.D. acquired the property adjoining Copshaholm. The Olivers first hired Alice E. Neale to design the gardens. Neale laid out the pergola in 1908. This vine-covered walkway leads west from the porte-cochere to the sunken garden.
The garden is representative of the Edwardian period of garden building which occurred in the early years of the 20th century. Edwardian gardens were distinguished by a rigid formality in the overall design and the use of classical design elements.
The gardens have changed over the years, but the changes are fascinating and add to the sense of how the house and family evolved.
The gardens are bare this time of year, but still lovely, peaceful and quiet.
I’ll spend other Artist Dates there this year, and show you how the gardens look during the different seasons.
Very nice house and gardens
urban hounds
What a gorgeous house and property…even in winter.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
What a lovely house and the grounds are fab also.
What a cool house!
Nola
I love when you share pix of Copshaholm! Some day, when I visit, I expect a guided tour 😀 Those Scots!!! Way to name places 😀
I would love to give you a tour!
A beautiful place to visit.
What a great looking place! I love those old buildings and gardens.
What an amazing building. It must have been fascinating to walk around.
Lynne x
What a beautiful post full of most interesting facts and pictures.
Hugs O’Madi and O’Mom
Ohhh! That looks like a castle and I love it! One of the best things about working at a place like this is that you get to see behind the scenes. I bet you’ve been all over it. It’s beautiful now and I’m sure it’s amazing in the spring and summer. Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous place–must be very peaceful to visit.
Woof! Woof! Lovely place. For sure you’ll be back again. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar