Westbury Court Garden, a rare surviving Dutch water garden in Gloucestershire.
Address: Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, GL14 1PD.
Westbury Court Garden in Gloucestershire is the only fully restored Dutch-style water garden in the UK.
On our first visit, it immediately struck me as somewhere made for slowing down – a place to sit quietly and take it all in. There’s a sense of order to it, but not in a rigid way; more a gentle balance of still water, clipped greenery and open space. The canals reflect the sky like glass, which adds to the calm, almost meditative feel. Dogs are welcome throughout, which makes the visit all the more relaxed.
The garden reflects fashions from the late 17th and early 18th centuries and was originally laid out between 1696 and 1705. The design is attributed to Maynard Colchester, an English lawyer and politician.
The central feature of the garden is the Long Canal, a 137-metre stretch of water extending from the two-storey Tall Pavilion. Along its sides, yew and holly have been shaped into pyramids and spheres. A second canal runs alongside it and meets a cross canal, creating a distinctive T-shaped layout.
What’s easy to overlook is that the garden was designed to be practical as well as attractive. Artichokes and asparagus were grown alongside flowers such as tulips, iris, crocuses and hyacinths, with fruit trees completing the mix. These crops were considered luxuries at the time, often appearing on the tables of wealthier households. The canals were stocked with fish, and a rabbit warren provided meat for the kitchen.
By the late 18th century, tastes had shifted. Formal gardens like this fell out of favour, replaced by the sweeping, naturalistic landscapes popularised by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. In 1805, the Colchester family demolished their house at Westbury and moved elsewhere in the Forest of Dean. The garden remained, but was kept in a simpler, less formal state.
Over time, neglect took its toll. The canals silted up, planting became overgrown, and the Tall Pavilion suffered from weather damage and lack of upkeep. By 1960, the site was at risk of being lost altogether, with plans to build housing on it. The local council stepped in to purchase the garden, and in 1967 the National Trust acquired part of the land, supported by an anonymous donor. Restoration work began – the Trust’s first attempt at restoring a historic garden – guided by detailed records and an engraving by Johannes Kip.
Today, the garden has been brought back to how it would have appeared in its early 18th-century prime, around the 1720s.
A couple of tips for visitors:
- The garden is home to some remarkably old and unusual trees. Keep an eye out for the holm oak, thought to be the oldest of its kind in the UK.
- You can feed the carp in the canals – fish food is available to buy from Visitor Welcome when you arrive.
Dogs at Westbury Court Garden
Westbury Court Garden is a two pawprint-rated site. Dogs are welcome throughout the garden and inside the garden buildings, provided they’re kept on a short, fixed lead.
There are water bowls available, a dog waste bin on site, and several dog-friendly walks nearby.
There’s no café at the garden, so it’s worth bringing anything you might need.
Do take care around the open canals, as they are unfenced.
Opening times (2026)
11:00 – 17:00, Wednesday – Sunday.
Admission fee
£11 for adults, £5.50 for children.
Parking
There is a very limited onsite parking, but free additional parking is located 300 yards up the main drive. Further parking is available in the village.
Website
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/gloucestershire-cotswolds/westbury-court-garden
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