THE AVIARY (RUIN)
There is not much to see now, but the unassuming low brick wall marks the area that once housed a large and ornate aviary. Almost rivaling the Swiss Cottage in scale, it was home to exotic feathered fowl and was an important focal point within numerous views.
By day, the beautiful birds and the view towards the Swiss Cottage wowed visitors; by night they may have been treated to the spectacle of the Aviary being lit up with myriad coloured, stained glass lanterns.
Apart from a few tantalising fragments of ornate ironwork, masonry and stained glass, and one distant, fuzzy archive photograph, we know very little about how the Aviary looked or what kinds of birds lived in it.
What is clear is that the Aviary lies on the main East-West axis of the Garden and it was intended as an important focal point for views looking from and back out towards the Swiss Cottage.
We would love to find out more about this mysterious structure.
Image interpretation created by ImageMakers
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LOWER POND
Just outside the entrance to the Swiss Garden, look out for fish in this small body of water.
MIDDLE POND
DOG CEMETERY
Burial place of Dorothy Shuttleworth’s beloved Japanese Chin dogs.
POND CASCADE BRIDGE
Clayton & Shuttleworth manufactured bridge c1870s, and with a Pulhamite cascade.
PENINSULA ISLAND
The plinth once boasted a prominent statue depicting Lord Ongley in empirical costume!
PUNT HARBOUR
THE AVIARY (RUIN)
Once home to exotic feathered fowl, and terminating one of the key view-lines from the Swiss Cottage.
EAGLE REDOUBT
A raised vantage point for viewing the garden, complete with a terracotta eagle.
ROCK GARDEN
A later Pulhamite addition (early 1900’s) to the garden, showcasing alpine plants and bulbs. It always looks particularly lovely in Spring.
THE BROADWALK
With impressive ironwork rose bowers, the ‘Night & Morning’ Vase, and two lion statues.
SWISS COTTAGE
The ‘heart’ and focal point of the garden. Views to and from the Swiss Cottage are key to the garden’s design.
PRIVY
A two-seated privy, but only one side in use at a time. An early example of a green loo!
THE FORGOTTEN ONE
A popular poem by Letitia Langdon, edited by Lord Ongley for the Swiss Garden.
TREE SEAT
Generously donated by Friends of Swiss Garden.
WOODLAND GATE & SCREEN
This marks the original entrance to the Swiss Garden as used by both the Ongley and Shuttleworth
families.
QUARRY GARDEN
With Istrian marble well-head dating from the 1900s.
CHAPEL
Delightful little building, highly reminiscent of a roadside shrine.
THE TERRACE
Popular with wedding photographers, it offers grand views of the Dolphin Tazza and undulating lawns leading to the Swiss Cottage.
DOLPHIN JARDINIÈRE & TAZZA
Manufactured and perfected by sculptor Felix Austin. It has an artificial ‘pudding stone’ finish.
CEDAR OF LEBANON
The tallest and oldest tree in the Swiss Garden, at around 250 years old. It is listed in the Champion Trees register and is a key focal point.
GROTTO & FERNERY
The amazing cave-like interior is formed from Pulhamite, added by the Shuttleworth family to house
their collection of ferns.
EAST LAWN
Find the colourful Acer tree here, the Rose Seat, and sun loungers during the warmer months of the year.
INDIAN KIOSK
The Indian Kiosk has a beautiful glass embossed rear panel and an interesting ‘room’ beneath it. It dates from c1830.
NORTH BRIDGE
Cato & Sons manufactured the North Bridge. It is quite steep, but this makes it an ideal spot for wedding photographers to capture romantic images!
MOAT BRIDGE
Also by Cato & Sons, manufactured in wrought and cast iron, it leads onto Middle Island with views of the Indian Kiosk.
GARDENERS’ COTTAGE
Joseph Shuttleworth re-roofed and extended this humble cottage in the 1870’s.
THE UNDERPASS
Built in the 1820s, this was pivotal to Lord Ongley’s vision for a ‘picturesque’, magical, hidden wonderland.
SERPENTINE LAKE
WOODLAND WALK
SCULPTURE TRAIL
PICNIC AREA
PEACOCKS
GARDEN ROOM
About the garden room
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