Northwick Park Estate

What sort of information are you looking for regarding the Northwick Estate? Sam Philpott was the Head Gardener there for years and I think before that someone called ‘Magar or Mager’. My Father was born along Sezincote Lane but lived in Blockley from 1917 until his death in January last year. I obviously do not know as much as he did, but I may be able to help with some things.

The Houses are now built where the walled garden used to be. The site that is now the Northwick Business Centre used to be an Orchard. Dad was the Pump House attendant (The Pump House was built in front of the Mansion (on the South west side). Its been knocked down now but was built to provide water for Northwick Camp in 1942/3. There was a deep well behind the pump house and the water was pumped from there up to the Reservoir just below Augustus (now derelict) and then ran gravity to the Camp – it also supplied Northwick Mansion and Wellacres Farm. Dad kept meticulous records and note of almost every gallon pumped from the time the Pump House was put into use to the time he left to go to Moreton in Marsh Fire College at the end of the 60’s.

I played in the Ice House as a child and on the Estate and in the big House. My Mother and Father initially started their married life at the Lodge (now gone) that used to be on the Park Road Drive (halfway down the first field set into the stone wall) and my Mum worked in the house for a short time, before I was born. The cart horses used to be in the Park then (1947) and Boxer, Bounce, Bowler and Blackie used to come up and rub themselves against the iron gates and Dad said they went out and gave them carrots and apples. Also the Rabbits used to get under the Lodge and play under the wooden floor – Dad had to wire it round to stop them. Then they moved to what is known as the ‘Bone Mill’ just before Northwick Mill Farm.

I am afraid if you want to know about the planting patterns etc., in the garden I wouldn’t know. I do remember the Wild Garden to the back and side of the Orangery as the family buried their dogs there. And I do remember Father telling me that the house was self sufficient in vegetables and fruit.

My Father remembered the long lake being open water (before the islands were built) and the visitors to the Mansion used to drive their cars down and the headlights used to be turned on and they used to skate on it (as apart from the area around the trout hatchery) it used to freeze solid in Winter.

If you think I can help please let me know.

Joan M. Hicks

Northwick is a William Emes design with two lakes, Upper and Lower. Those that know Croome well we recall that at the far end of the lake there is a carriage drive that dips into a ’splash.’Look over to your right and the lake perimeter is viewed. Except it’s not. What you see is a wide island and there is a hidden stretch of water behind before the outlying bank is reached.

A similar device is used in the woods of the Upper Lake at Northwick and of course Emes was a disciple of Capability Brown who produced the Croome Park masterstroke.

Today the Lower Lake lies so low it’s virtually invisible but there is a lovely drive that winds tantalisingly through woodland to the east of the essentially Palladian house of 1728-30 designed by Lord Burlington of Chiswick fame.