Camden News: Geoffrey Jellicoe | Garden | Dartmouth Park | Grove Terrace

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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 22 May 2008

Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe and his wife Susan

Owners defend their plans for cherished garden

THE former private haven of a widely respected landscape garden designer could be lost for ever if plans for a sunken extension and terrace go ahead, neighbours have warned.
Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, who died in 1986, is regarded as one of Britain’s most influential landscape architects and was the principal at the Architects Association. Experts say his works are as important to 20th-century design as stately home landscaper Sir Humphrey Repton was to the golden era of British gardens in the 1700s and 1800s.
But now the Dartmouth Park garden Sir Geoffrey tended for 50 years is under threat. The new owners of his former home in Grove Terrace have applied to build a conservatory on the back of his grade II-listed home, and dig out a large section of the garden to create a sunken area leading into a conservatory and basement.
Neighbours say the plans for the home – due to have an English Heritage blue plaque put on the front marking Sir Geoffrey’s tenure – will mean the chance to restore to former glories.
Architect Oliver Cox, who lives in the street and was once a pupil of Sir Geoffrey’s, has written a letter to English Heritage and Camden Council outlining his objections to the proposals.
He said: “The garden has been changed, but not beyond recognition. The latest proposals would mean it would be gone forever.”
But architect Amir Senai, who worked on the plans, dismissed the idea that his designs would ruin the garden.
He said: “Our clients are hoping for some guidance from the Landscape Institute to reinstate the planting as to how it was when he was there.”
He added that Sir Geoffrey’s own philosophy was to look for striking contemporary ideas, which would mean the work they were now proposing was in keeping with this.
Mr Senai said: “Jellicoe was a modernist. His garden had a lawn up the middle and beds either side. It was the planting which is of real interest, and we are not sure how much of that remains.”
The owners bought the property in June and, according to their architect, the house was in a poor state when they moved in.
He added: “We have permission for a contemporary, modern extension and to reinstate as much of the original details inside that we can.”

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