From plans to planting: the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace
Follow the story of William III's stunning Privy Garden, from 18th-century plans to the modern reconstruction.
Aerial view of Privy Garden (2015)Historic Royal Palaces
The Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace is a stunning reconstruction of the original design from 1702. A unique example of English baroque garden design, it is one of the most accurately reconstructed historical gardens in the UK.
Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace (2017) by Aerial VueHistoric Royal Palaces
The modern restoration of the current Privy Garden is based on the 17th-century design, which was commissioned by William III.
A panoramic view of Hampton Court Palace and gardens (1707) by Johannes KipOriginal Source: Historic Royal Palaces image library
This 1707 view of the Hampton Court Palace gardens shows the original formal layout of William's garden bordering the River Thames, to the south of the palace.
The Privy Garden and Tijou Screen, Hampton Court Palace (2016) by Andrew ButlerHistoric Royal Palaces
The height of baroque fashion
William and Mary hired the best gardeners and craftsmen and used the most fashionable plants to create a garden fit for Christopher Wren's elegant new palace.
The Tijou screen in the Privy Garden was designed by Jean Tijou and constructed in 1690.
A panoramic view of Hampton Court Palace and gardens (1707) by Johannes KipOriginal Source: Historic Royal Palaces image library
The screen can clearly be seen in the 1707 panoramic view of the gardens.
The Privy Garden and Tijou Screen, Hampton Court Palace (2016) by Andrew ButlerHistoric Royal Palaces
It includes 12 panels depicting the emblems of England (the rose), Ireland (the harp), a thistle for Scotland, William and Mary's monogram, the garter star and Fleur de Lys.
Designs for elements of the Tijou Screen at Hampton Court Palace (1693) by Jean TijouOriginal Source: Historic Royal Palaces image library
These are Tijou's designs for elements of the screen, published in 1693.
Tijou explained that the collection of prints depict gates, balconies, staircases and panels, mostly either made for Hampton Court Palace, or for the great houses of the English nobility.
Tijou states that the prints were 'all for the Use of them that will work Iron in Perfection and with Art', ie. other craftsmen. This was the first pattern book for ironwork to be published in Britain.
The Tijou Screen, harp panel, Hampton Court Palace (2015) by James BrittainHistoric Royal Palaces
This beautiful screen can still be seen at the end of the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
The Tijou Screen, Hampton Court Palace (2016) by Andrew ButlerHistoric Royal Palaces
In their efforts to create gardens to rival the Palace of Versailles, William and Mary spent an estimated £100,000 on the Hampton Court Palace gardens in just 13 years. This was a huge amount of money by 18th-century standards.
Plan view of Palace Gardens (1736) by John Rocque (fl. 1738) CartographerHistoric Royal Palaces
Such was Mary's passion for gardening that she employed her own botanist to look after her collection of exotic plants and citrus trees.
The result of their spending, and other Stuart royals such as Charles I and Charles II, can be clearly seen in this plan from 1738.
Unfortunately, the Privy Garden was William's last commission and neither King nor Queen lived long enough to enjoy strolling through it.
After William and Mary
After the palace fell out of favour in the late 18th century, the once-clipped topiary was allowed to grow as nature intended and the garden changed substantially from its original design.
By the mid 20th century, the Privy Garden was unrecognisable.
Reconstructing the Privy Garden
It wasn't until the 1990s, when the East Front was restored, that the Privy Garden was brought back to life.
Detailed accounts left by the original gardeners and craftsmen after William’s untimely death helped the modern gardening team to recreate their work.
The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace (2016) by Andrew ButlerHistoric Royal Palaces
The reconstruction project took five years and the garden was opened in 1995 by HRH Prince Charles.
Gardeners in the Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace (2015) by Richard Lea-HairHistoric Royal Palaces
The gardens team have meticulously restored the Privy Garden to its former glory using historically accurate plant varieties and techniques.
The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace (2016) by Andrew ButlerHistoric Royal Palaces
The spacing between the plants and the mounded beds is a style you don’t see in modern gardens.
Citrus trees, Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace (2019) by Richard Lea-HairHistoric Royal Palaces
The garden today
Today, the challenge is to keep the Privy Garden looking its royal best. As well as continuing traditional gardening practices from the 18th century, the gardens team are also recreating Mary's collection of citrus trees, which are displayed in the Privy Garden each summer.
The big planting changeover at Hampton Court PalaceHistoric Royal Palaces
Here, former Horticultural Manager Greg Leeson explains how the team moves Mary's citrus trees, along with thousands of summer flowers and exotic palms, into the gardens — a tradition started by William and Mary to add seasonal interest to the Privy Garden.
Find out more and visit the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
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