THE SECRET’S OUT It’s a silver-screen debut for the historical and magnificent 900 acre estate Iford Manor Gardens Words by Nick Woodhouse
T
hree years ago, the owners of Iford Manor received an unexpected and intriguing phone call. A location scout had discovered an image of the Spanish Patio within Iford’s Harold Peto garden and was keen to visit. In search of locations for the new film adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel The Secret Garden, the scout’s call was duly followed by his arrival, and that of several colleagues, in a minibus to see the gardens first-hand. The minibus became a coach on the next visit, with the following summer seeing the arrival of the crew themselves, ready for filming.
release over the Easter weekend earlier this year, with Iford owners Marianne and William Cartwright-Hignett hoping to offer screenings within the gardens over the subsequent summer months. This year of course took its own uncertain course and the film’s release was delayed, with the gardens staying closed throughout the season. The garden team at Iford, led by Troy ScottSmith, has continued however to work behind those closed gates, keen to create some muchneeded positivity from this turn of global events. In place of daily preparations for visitors, they were able instead to concentrate on those larger projects that form part of their far-reaching ten-year plan. The restoration of the gardens has been accelerated, with re-planting schemes taking the place of daily deadheading. Troy has been further developing their volunteer training programme too, ensuring it continues to be a meaningful scheme where those passionate about gardening can share their ideas and learn from the best. The manor’s extensive arts programme was also sadly put on hold, apart from four days in August. Here, with lockdown restrictions eased, Marianne and William were able to launch the Bounceback Festival, a way of supporting musicians who hadn’t been able to work or perform in recent months. Over 600 tickets were sold for the event, with music spanning from classical jazz to gypsy folk. Next year will not only see the return of the festival and April’s re-opening of the gardens to the public, but also a new multipurpose space to welcome guests, host events and sell local produce, including that from the wider Iford estate. After a particularly wet winter that prevented the digging of foundations of the space, this project had fallen six months behind; now, they are making up for lost time, the circular saws humming in the background whilst I interview William. There will undoubtedly be further ways in
“John dedicated almost four decades to restoring Harold Peto’s original design” It was ultimately the Great Terrace, rather than the Spanish Patio that took centre stage. It was to become one of six gardens that feature within the film, a list that includes the National Trust’s renowned Bodnant Garden near Colwyn Bay. It may however take viewers a little while to recognise their favourite spaces. At Iford, a three-week set-up saw the famous Great Terrace turfed, colonnades temporarily added and the arrival of some 1,500 potted plants. The plants would stay in their pots, strategically placed to ensure a riot of colour from all angles. Filming itself took place over three sundrenched days and included some of the key scenes from the magical story; the reconciliation for example of Mary’s cousin and his father, Archibald Craven, played by Colin Firth. By this stage, the manor’s magic had cast its spell on the film’s production designer Grant Montgomery, who later chose to return to Iford to film a series of indoor scenes for ITV’s Regency drama Sanditon there. The Secret Garden was due for its theatrical
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which the gardens will look different to how they might have in days before the pandemic. The restaurant will most likely have an alternative layout and offer at-seat service, and audio guides may be on offer to counter any restrictions on numbers joining a guided tour. Marianne and William are keen however that the space doesn’t become just another museum, wishing instead to reflect both its vibrancy and the enthusiasm of the very people that continue to be so core to the garden’s story. Any audio guides will therefore include contributions not just from William, Marianne and Troy, but also from William’s parents, John and Elizabeth, both so formative to the Iford we see today. When Elizabeth, aged 25, purchased Iford in 1964, the gardens were largely neglected, her future husband John dedicating almost four decades to restoring Harold Peto’s original design. It is the more intimate setting of the smaller evening tours of the gardens that really allows William the opportunity to share those stories, over a glass of fizz, of his family’s work and their plans for the future. Fortunately, those plans will soon include being able to watch The Secret Garden on screen. The secret’s finally out; the film is set for general release later this month, hopefully followed by those much-anticipated outdoor screenings at Iford next summer. The Secret Garden starring Dixie Egerickx, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters will be released in cinemas, and on Sky Cinema, on 23 October. For more: Iford Manor, Iford, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 2BA, tel: 01225 863146; www.ifordmanor.co.uk
Nick Woodhouse is the co-director of interior and garden design company Woodhouse & Law on 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; 01225 428072; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk
