Water Garden, Harlow New Town, Essex

The Water Garden designed by architect and landscape designer Sir Frederick Gibberd. The gardens were a component of his town planning scheme for Harlow New Town in Essex. Sir Frederick noted, 'Here I designed a formal garden to link the Civic Square to open landscape. The top terrace, which will be an extension of the Square, has a long canal with several fountains. The canal water is delivered through seven lions heads by William Mitchell, set in a retaining wall, to a channel below. It is then piped to small pools in enclosed gardens at the lowest level and then pumped back again. The yew hedges in the picture are now grown and the gardens much appreciated by courting couples.'