The Story of Two Iconic Welsh Gardens

An Arts Society South West London lecture to be given by William Wilkins

National Botanic Garden of Wales National Botanic Garden of Wales

William Wilkins is to deliver a lecture hosted by the Arts Society South West London entitled ‘The Story of Two Iconic Welsh Gardens.

He will be telling the story of Middleton Hall and Aberglasney.

The late Elizabethan garden at Aberglasney is the only surviving cloister garden in the UK and it was discovered and saved, at the 11th hour, with the help of an American benefactor.

The lecture also reveals the discovery and restoration of a supposedly vanished park around the vestiges of a great house at Middleton, and recounts how it became the National Botanic Garden of Wales and the setting of the largest single span glasshouse in the world, designed by Norman Foster.

Aberglasney

William Wilkins divides his life between Wales, London and Venice. He went to the Royal College of Art, did some teaching, and worked in the Architect’s Department of the GLC before successfully exhibiting in New York and elsewhere. He combined his love of architecture and landscape architecture to set up The Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, the National Botanic Garden of Wales and the Aberglasney Restoration Trust as well as numerous other cultural and heritage projects.

The lecture will be live in Dryburgh Hall at 8pm on 14 March and it is hoped that it will be broadcast live on Zoom as well.

Non-members are welcome for a donation to the Arts Society South West London. For more information visit the society’s website.

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March 2, 2022