Erbistock Hall (nprn 27128) is a Georgian brick mansion situated on elevated ground above and to the the west of the river Dee, within a small park which is mostly to the west of the house (700261). Gardens lie around the house from north-west to south to south-east, and are notable for their terraces and well-preserved ancient yew hedging and topiary.
The drive enters the grounds in the north-west corner, between level lawns to the oval forecourt west of the house. This is flanked by rhododendrons on the west, and by a modern brick wall on the south through which an iron gate in an archway leads into the terraced garden. This lies mainly to the south and south-east of the house on ground falling away to the south. The garden, separated from the park by a ha-ha, is divided into several partly-terraced compartments by tall yew hedging and yew topiary, its principal features. Its formal structure probably dates from the building of the house in the early eighteenth century.
Immediately south of the house is mainly lawn, demarcated on the east and south by tall yew hedgeing and yew domes, and on the west by the ha-ha. The north-east corner of the compartment, close to the house, is occupied by a dovecote on a raised platform. The slope is cut into four descending terraces of varying widths and heights, bounded by grass slopes. A stone flag path runs on the main central north-south axis of the garden, with flights of steps, and a cross path leads to the dovecote to the east (31717). A rectangular compartment of rough grass and old fruit trees towards the bottom of the garden was a former orchard, the central path now grassy. This, the southernmost, parcel displays prominent cultivation ridges (APs); the south-east corner once contained a summer house. East of the terraces, an east-west path between tall yew hedges leads to areas of garden subdivided variously by yew and box hedges, partly bounded by high brick walls, formerly the kitchen garden, but now largely taken up with a hard tennis court flanked by narrow lawns. Beyond the north wall is an area of brick outbuildings, kennels, frames, and a glasshouse, with a small old orchard bounded by a box hedge on its west side.
Sources:
Cadw 1995: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales, Clwyd, 66-8 (ref: PGW(C)73).
Ordnance Survey, 25-inch map: sheet Denbighshire XXXVI.13. (second edition 1899).
Additional notes: David Leighton.
RCAHMW, 17 June 2022