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ASCOG
HALL VICTORIAN FERNERY AND GARDENS
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THE FERNERY
(Kath's
story continued)
As to our second
ruin, when the "jungle" was gradually cleared, we uncovered
a large glazed structure in the undergrowth, almost hidden by a
covering of ivy. Rustic steps led down to the sunken, dingy, interior
full of broken glass, water, mud and brambles. This apart, it was
a fascinating spectacle, with strangely fashioned walls as well
as a clogged up pond full of rotting vegetation. Here and there
could be seen fallen black fibrous "trunks", which was
all that remained of the tree ferns that had once thrived in this
magical place.
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This as we later
discovered, had once been a magnificent fernery housing many exotic
sub-tropical ferns. However, with so much time, attention and money
needing to be spent on the house, we never at that time seriously
considered the fernery's restoration.
In the meantime,
an article had come to light in The Gardeners Chronicle of 1879,
which featured the fernery. This included not only a wonderful description
of the place but also a complete inventory of the ferns - an invaluable
record, should the fernery ever be restored.
Over a period
of time we had an ongoing dialogue with Historic Scotland, and in
1995 they awarded a substantial grant towards the restoration of
a new roof for the fernery. A good architect was employed, the right
blacksmith was found, and the crumbling iron spars from the original
roof were carefully removed. A new roof, identical to the original,
was erected and glazed in 1996.
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As far as the
restocking with ferns was concerned, we realised this was going
to be a huge undertaking, and we approached The Royal Botanic Garden,
Edinburgh initially for advice. However, when Mr. David Mitchell
of the R.B.G.E. first viewed the fernery, his reaction was one of
delight, and an agreement was reached whereby the R.B.G.E.'s involvement
would be comprehensive. Using the Gardeners' Chronicle as a guide,
a new collection of pteridophytes (ferns) was planted in a style
evocative of the original planting. The fernery opened to the public
for the first time in June 1997.
Last year (
2001 ) The
Historic Gardens Foundation awarded First Prize to Ascog Hall
Fernery for the restoration of a built structure in a historic park
or garden. There were eleven entries in all throughout Scotland
so winning such a prestigious prize was an honour indeed. The official
presentation took place in the Trade Halls in Glasgow in July 2001
and the important event was well covered in the national press.
During the same
year, the fernery was featured on television in BBC Gardeners' World
and also The Beechgrove Garden
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Extract from Alistair Wardlaw's
article in the Pteridologist, 1998
"Surely one of
the most significant (and least publicised) pteridological events in Britain
of the last two years was the opening of this restored Victorian fernery.
It is a story of past love, neglect and decay, accidental discovery in
a "jungle", and romantic and dedicated rebuilding and restocking.
The place is Ascog Hall, the location is the Island of Bute, and the energetic
restorers are Wallace and Katherine Fyfe who own the property.
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The story starts
around 120 years ago and is reported in The Gardeners' Chronicle
of October 25, 1879 when the fernery had recently been completed.
This early article, illustrated with a woodcut showing tree-ferns,
describes much of what the visitor sees again today.
When the Fyfes
first stumbled on the ruined structure in 1987, they did not recognise
its true nature. It was totally derelict, the roof having all but
collapsed and the interior cavity like the basement of an ancient
building, was choked with trees and brambles. Miraculously, one
large fern had survived! A huge specimen of Todea Barbara, with
a mountainous rhizome about a metre in diameter and 3 metres high,
is still visible today. This very same fern was said to be "a
thousand years old or more" in the Gardeners' Chronicle article.
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The basic structure
is an L-shaped canyon excavated in a natural bank, and with a span roof
of iron girders and glass at ground level. Thus, one enters the structure
by going down steps as if into a grotto. This semi-burial in the ground
allows the fernery to be unheated and yet be suitable for a wide range
of sub-tropical vegetation. Indeed in summer, there is often a problem
of keeping it cool, even with all the vents open. The interior walls are
of the local red sandstone, in blocks of menhir dimensions that are very
sculptural and pleasing. At the far end is a small waterfall, which divides
into a stream that meanders down the centre around a pool with an elongated
island crammed with ferns. The whole interior has to be watered every
day during the summer months.
Credits for the restoration
must go to Historic Scotland for helping to fund the new roof, which would
have been impossibly expensive for private owners, and to the Royal Botanic
Garden, Edinburgh, for the restocking of the fernery. But the major credit
must be reserved for Wallace & Kath Fyfe for their vision, initiative
and sheer hard work to get the fernery restored and then to maintain it."
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