Newby Hall Wins Garden of the Year 2019
Newby Hall & Gardens in North Yorkshire wins the 2019 Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie’s, in a public vote.
Over 6,000 votes were cast between March and September 2019 to give Newby Hall & Gardens the 2019 title, triumphing over seven other contenders for the crown including Belvoir Castle and Forde Abbey.
The announcement was made at the Historic Houses National AGM in London on Tuesday 12th November 2019, and marks the first time the award has been decided from among a shortlist of eight contenders and by an online public poll. Newby Hall & Gardens picked up almost a third of the vote, receiving 1,982 in total.
The 2019 award also marks the first time in the competition’s history that a previous winner has been able to compete for the title, with Newby Hall having won it in 1986.
Newby Hall & Gardens, near Ripon in North Yorkshire, is visited by nearly 140,000 people each year and often features on TV and film. They are owned by Richard and Lucinda Compton and located at the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales and are filled with rare and beautiful plants and shrubs in 14 stunning ‘rooms’ as well as boasting one of the longest double herbaceous borders in the UK, two heritage orchards and acres of woodland.
Lucinda Compton said:
“We are over the moon to win this award, particularly as the votes were cast by members of the public. To be the first garden to have won it twice makes it even more special. Our team of gardeners should feel very proud as they work tirelessly in all weathers to keep Newby always looking first class.”
Ben Cowell, Director General, Historic Houses
Newby Hall is one of Yorkshire’s most popular visitor attractions, and is now officially the nation’s favourite garden! Historic Houses’ places tend to remain lived-in, family homes, which means that they are able to evolve and adapt over time. We should not be surprised that Newby has become the first garden to win this prestigious award twice – the changes introduced by owners Richard and Lucinda Compton have made Newby one of the country’s finest pleasure grounds.
