Wonastow Court is located on the north side of the Trothy valley (nprn 221739), south-west of Monmouth. It is noted for the survival of the bones of its formal terraced garden with the remnants of wider formal planting, possibly of sixteenth or seventeenth century date (with nineteenth-century additions), all set within a small park (700076).

The gardens lie around the house: a sunken formal garden to the south-east and informal areas to the east, west and north-west. They appear to be of several phases, and parts may be of considerable antiquity. Informal belts of trees and shrubs are probably nineteenth-century in origin and there are remnants of Victorian planting, such as the wellingtonia trees. The sunken formal garden is probably Victorian or Edwardian in its present form but may have much earlier origins.

The grounds are entered from the north-west of the house, off the Dingestow to Monmouth road, along a drive running south, west of the house, through an area of lawn dotted with deciduous trees then swinging east to a forecourt area on the south-east side of the house. On the west is a boundary belt of mixed trees, including large conifers, and an overgrown yew hedge which extends to the churchyard abutting the south side of the garden. At the north end of the grounds is an area of large, ancient yews, possibly part of an ancient formal grove.

In front of the house, to its south-east, is a level lawn, fringed by ornamental trees. Below, to the south-east, is a steep slope down to a level area where removal of overburden has revealed the framework of a formally laid-out garden. Remains include stone edging, steps and a linear terrace. Below the terrace is the lower, rectangular, garden area laid out with a perimeter path of crushed shells, around a central bird bath on a plinth. The west side, next to the churchyard, has stone edgings for either paths or beds along the slope which is planted with large yews. Below this area is the site of a former pond. To the north-east is an area of overgrown woodland with traces of ornamental features including a small pond with a dam and some hedging, with ornamental trees including yews and mature limes. The area was partly disturbed by its use during the Second World War.

North-east of the house is the kitchen garden (700077).

Sources:
Cadw 2007: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, additional and revised entries part 1, 46-8 (ref: PGW (Gt) 56 (MON).
Ordnance Survey 25-inch map: sheet Monmouthshire XIV.7 (editions of 1880).

RCAHMW, 5 April 2022

Cofnod Safle

Wonastow Court Gardens, Mitchel Troy