Exclusive: Serles House garden saved from closure

Exclusive report and photos by Marilyn Barber

The people of Wimborne and the surrounding area were shocked and saddened when Ian Willis, whose ‘Secret Garden’ at Serles House in Victoria Road, Wimborne, died suddenly at his home on 5 October 2020 at the age of 68.

Not only were they mourning his loss, but they feared for the future of the property which Ian has bought in 1981, and subsequently transformed into what has been described as ‘the masterpiece of an eccentric’. The garden was described by Alan Titchmarsh as one of the ‘ten best gardens in Great Britain’.

But there is good news, as the house and garden has been bought by Christopher and Bridget Ryan who intend to open it next year under the National Gardens Scheme.

The name Ryan will be familiar to people in Wimborne, as Christopher is the son of the late Denis and Margery Ryan – both former mayors – of Lewens Lane.

Mr Ryan said: “There are two reasons why we’ve bought the house. I grew up in Wimborne and went to school there, and although I’ve lived in London for 35 years, I have always considered the town as my home.

“Also, it is an ideal home on all sorts of levels as it has been well maintained. We felt it was important that Ian’s legacy was carried on. We know little about gardening and it will be a challenge, but we have been promised help. We will do the best we can. It is something new for us to do and a good way to get to know people.”

In Ian’s will dated 21 February 2008, he stated that he left Serles House and Gardens to the Priest’s House Museum Collections Trust in the hope that it would remain open to the public.

The trust commissioned a feasibility study which came to the conclusion that there were ‘a significant number of practical and operation issues that would need to be resolved to enable Serles House to open to the public. Resolving issues around security and accessibility will be costly and risks diminishing the quality of visitor experience as designed by Ian Willis’.

Ian Willis with his dog

The study also said that Serles Hose would ‘have limited appeal to visitors, which may diminish further over time as the charismatic personality of Ian Willis was so integral to its previous success’. Sue Cook, vice chairman of the Collections Trust, said: “A great deal of consideration was given to Ian’s legacy and letter of wishes by the trust.

“To ensure that a record of the house and garden will be kept in the PHMCT archives, and used for future exhibitions of Ian’s story, a professional film has also been produced.” Subsequently, the property was put up for sale – its future very much in doubt.

The executors dealing with the estate spent considerable time in trying to find suitable buyers for Serles House. They wanted to find someone who would be sympathetic to the situation and who would retain the house in a similar style and maintain the garden in its present form.

One of the executors, Francis Howard-Vine, said: “The executors are delighted that a buyer has come forward who will do just that and the garden will be open to the public next year under the National Gardens Scheme.

“Ian was a lovable eccentric who loved Wimborne and he would be delighted that a local family will make it their home.”

Everything in the garden is as Ian left it – nothing has been sold or removed. The final two days’ opening of Serles House earlier this year raised £1,963.45 with a total of 409 visitors enjoying the quirky house and garden. Phil Broomfield, local organiser for Dorset NGS, said: “I am delighted Christopher and Bridget have offered to open in support of our healthcare and nursing charities next year. The huge turnout this year and amount raised is testament to the support locals have of Ian’s creativeness and he would be proud his work is being continually recognised.” The total raised by the garden over the years amounts to £35,973.03, which includes the figures from the two open days.

The warmth of feeling in the town for Ian was illustrated by the fact that crowds lined the route to pay their respects when a horsedrawn hearse carrying his coffin travelled through the town on 29 October 2020.