History of the Estate

Although you may be excused for thinking that the House holds the fascination, it is in fact only a part of the Estate which makes up Hylands Park. The Estate has seen as much, if not more, transformation than the House and continues to develop and evolve as one of the most popular open air spaces in Essex.

The acreage of the Estate stands at well over 500 acres and encompasses woodland, grassland, lakes, an arboretum, an ice plantation, stables, a natural concert bowl, farmland, a kitchen garden, a tennis lawn, and the pleasure gardens. Each is rich in history and wildlife and contributes to the overall tapestry of Hylands.

The Pleasure Gardens is one the areas of the Estate that is most closely linked to the development of the House, with each owner changing the design, theme and use of these gardens to suit their tastes and fashions of the time. Currently the Pleasure Garden boasts a maze of hidden pathways originally designed for the domestic staff to use to avoid being seen by the gentry using the gardens. The fishpond once was a diving pool built and used by the Hanbury family (1923-1962) in the centre of what was Labouchere’s 250 feet long conservatory.

The kitchen garden was also constructed during Labouchere’s ownership (1816-1839) of Hylands. The methods used and species of produce grown were highly regarded at the time and evidence of the structure of the “hot-houses” were discovered during recent excavation in the gardens.

The Estate is now an oasis on the outskirts of Chelmsford and provides the venue for two internationally renowned music festivals, attracting anywhere in the region of 150,000 people per year – little did Humphry Repton know when he was commissioned to landscape the Estate during Cornelius Kortright’s ownership (1797-1815).

The park is used extensively for walking - with or without dogs (!!), picnicking, sports and recreation of all types. It is felt that the role of the House must fit in with the use of the Estate and vice versa, making any visit to Hylands a memorable one.

Nick Wickenden
Chelmsford Borough Council