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The Gardens at Mackerye End

There was a rare opportunity to visit a much loved corner of Hertfordshire on the afternoon of Sunday 7th April 2002 when the gardens at Mackerye End House were be open for public viewing.  The event was in aid of the Friends of St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead who work to raise funds for the upkeep of their own ancient building.

There follows, below, the essence of some notes provided by the owners for the occasion.

The earliest records of a house at Mackerye End date from 1307 when the Manor of Makeriesend was held by William Makary.  Makarys lived in the house through to the early part of the fifteenth century.  The house passed to the Bostocks when young Thomas Makary died without an heir and the house was left to his sister, Margaret and her husband Hugh Bostock - parents of the celebrated Abbot of St Albans - John of Wheathampstead.  The oldest surviving parts of the house are around the massive south chimney stack dating from the reign of Henry VII. The main structure is Elizabethan, and the tulip tree (see inset picture) - originally one of a pair - was planted at that time and is now one of the finest in the country.  

 

The 'dutch' gables, the main feature of the beautiful east elevation, were added in 1665. The windows were altered to their Georgian form in 1760 by Thomas Garrard.  The delightful ceilings of the Drawing Room and Morning Room were put in during 1720. The Dining Room was completed by the Victorian architect, Norman Shaw.  Modernisation and repairs, including complete reproofing, were carefully carried out in 1988 in order to both preserved the character for the past and create a comfortable family home with a delightful atmosphere.  
The features of the gardens, which are set within the framework of formal yew hedges are; the carpets of miniature daffodils, lent lilies, specimen camellias in the spring and the wide main Summer border. The  sweet chestnut trees in the North Paddock are of enormous age.  Work carried out since August 1988 when the present owners moved in to Mackerye End, has included extensive clearance; the walled courtyard has been levelled; the small pond relined; yew hedging, the framework of the formal front gardens is being cut to level; the mixed hedges to the boundaries have been cut and are now starting to thicken; shrubs and climbers have been heavily cut back and selective pruning carried out to restore shape; the paddock areas to the west of the house are now enclosed by distinctive cross braced fencing.  The enclosed vegetable garden had been cleared and a mass of Delphiniums 'cleaned' and replanted. Peonies were moved in autumn 1989. Two symmetrical areas have been formed to either side of the central walkway, which is itself being replanted to provide additional flowers for cutting throughout the year. These areas are now laid out to form a path maze to the west 'a passage of thyme' and a 'tranquil' garden to the east.  

The Edwardian setting for the swimming pool has been retained and the pool itself has been completely remodelled to an 'original' design of a formal pattern.  The pool-house is a small Romanesque Villa set in the woods.  A beautiful mature Wisteria has been retained to dress the facade of the building and over planted with clematis.  These areas of work fully absorbed our energy from 1988 to 1991 when the next projects commenced; the levelling and enclosure of an area to the north of the house within a pergola walk of vines and 'old fashioned' roses and laying a village cricket square.  

Projects commenced in the Millenium include the formal sundial at the front of the house and the planting of a double avenue of maples and chestnuts in the new parkland to the east. The main borders, badly invaded by ground elder, are being cleared and then replanted & the badly decayed Elizabethan chimney stacks are being rebuilt.  

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Introduction about the Gardens at Mackerye End
by Ruth Jeavons
to publicise the event in aid of the Friends of St Helen's Church. 

The gardens are famous for their display of Lenten lilies and carpets of miniature daffodils in the front two pastures, also for the ancient tulip trees planted either side of the front entrance. The oldest is said to be one of the finest in the country and the same age as that part of the house, both dating from 1665.

Records of Mackerye End go back to 1307, though the massive chimney stack at the back of the house is the oldest part of the present building, dating from the time of Henry VII. The main structure is Elizabethan and the dutch gables at the front of the house are a distinctive and attractive seventeenth-century feature. 

St Albans Abbey’s famous abbot John of Wheathampstead was born at Mackerye End. Images of his parents, Hugo and Margaret Bostock, may be seen in brass in St Helen’s church with the inscription composed by their famous son.

John was a great prince of the church during the Wars of the Roses and a generous benefactor to the abbey, building chapels, installing windows and donating elaborate vestments, silken hangings and chalices for the mass. It is said that he sheltered a wounded King Henry VI on his flight from the enemy during one of the battles of St Albans

About three centuries later the writer and essayist Charles Lamb’s earliest and fondest memory was of a childhood walk with his sister through the fields to Mackeryre End Farm. His aunt Gladman was housekeeper to the farmer there. The warmth of the  welcome he received on arrival remained with Charles as a happy memory until the end of his life.

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