Vintage Views with Aled Jones: This Sewerby Hall scene has changed little

The postcard was published by the famous Bradford-based photographer Walter Scott, and sent from Bridlington to Tickton, near Beverley.

The Bridlington Corporation purchased the Sewerby Estate from the Greame family, in 1934, and later modified the grounds for public use. The hall and park was opened to the public with a ceremony on June 1, 1936, by the aviator Amy Johnson.

The Old English Garden was established in 1937 within the Estate’s former productive walled Kitchen Gardens at a cost of £14,000, which included planting 2,500 bulbs. The shelter and the lily pond also date to this period.

The Kitchen Gardens provided food for the household year-round, and their date of creation is probably between 1802 and 1829. They were typical of those found in Victorian days, when big country estates relied on self-sufficiency.

I have found the Victorian kitchen garden to be fascinating. Especially within the context of it producing a large surplus that was used to feed estate workers, domestic servants and the local community. It’s interesting to note the landed gentry some 200 years ago were for the most part a socially-conscious lot!

Turning now to the Pleasure Gardens which have made Sewerby world-famous, these were laid out in the mid-19th century.

Whilst the rest of the House and grounds were landscaped and altered during the period 1934-1937, the Pleasure Gardens were left much as they had been when the family was in residence. The view has changed little and is hugely comparable with vintage photographs.

These magnificent gardens are a living tribute to the work of the Estate’s full-time gardeners from c.1850 to 1934.

Much of the laying out of the gardens was carried out by Yarburgh Graeme (owner 1841-56) who planted the great Monkey Puzzle trees we see today. He also built the grand Orangery, Estate Gatehouse and Clock Tower.

Today these pleasure gardens are as popular as ever, their place always high on people’s adventure list.