Aysgarth Edwardian Rock Garden: A Story of Creation and Re-Creation

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Hawes is a popular market town in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire and is regarded as one of the honeypot tourist attractions of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Standing between Buttertubs and Fleet Moss, the town is an excellent centre for walking and touring Wensleydale and the adjoining dales of Swaledale, Cotterdale, Dentdale, Garsdale, Wharfedale and Chapel-le-Dale. Take a walk around the Hawes Town Trail, Millennium Walk, Pennine Way or along the River Ure, which is nearby. In 1998 Hawes was awarded the English Tourist Board Silver Award for the "Best Day Trip Out". Modern traffic has long replaced coaches and horse drawn wagons along its narrow streets, but market day (Tuesdays) in Hawes is as busy as ever, with a farmers’ auction attracting sheep farmers from all over the north of England. Traditional shops, cafés and inns now cater for a variety of Dales visitors as well as the local community. The award-winning Wensleydale Creamery, made famous by the animated Wallace and Grommit films, is now open to visitors so that they can see the famous cheese being made and sample the end product in a welcoming café. In the old station yard you will find the busy National Park Centre and Dales Countryside Museum. The Museum is home to the magnificent collection of Dales artefacts by the two great Dales historians and writers, Marie Hartley and Joan Ingilby. On the A684 at the western end of Aysgarth village, about 200 metres before the Thornton Rust turning. Public access during daylight hours. Donations box.

In the homely sitting room, catch up on your favourite shows or relish a movie night on the Smart TV, if you’re seeking some much-needed alone time, an additional wood pannelled snug provides the perfect spot to get lost in a good book as the log burner roars away. John has been so enthusiastic from the start,” said Mrs Anderson. “But it is a big responsibility looking after it all the time. The people in Aysgarth have been so supportive.” We've just received Listed Building consent to install Heritage wooden frame double glazing which should resolve any road noise concerns ,and keep us warm in the Dales winters , and this should be fitted by next year. Sayer-Graham was also a keen horticulturist. He planted fields of tulips and daffodils as well as at least two plantations of trees around Aysgarth, and set up his own nursery next door to his home, Heather Cottage. The accommodation was really impressive, we loved the antique furniture and the decor in each room was all so tastefully chosen.If you begin to feel sleepy, head to the first-floor bathroom to take an indulgent soak in the tub before choosing from one of four charming bedrooms to catch your beauty sleep in, including a king-size with its very own freestanding bath,a king ensuite, a double and a twin.

If you are thinking of getting the extended family together - this is a wonderful place to do it. Already recommended it to friends. Even at the height of summer, it is always cool in here with the north facing aspect," says Angela. But no one was allowed inside to see what had been created. "Locals who remember Frank all say they were not welcome in his garden," says Angela. "People who were then children recall his wife rapping on the windows of Heather Cottage if they so much as touched the railings." The hamper, which was left out for us, was such a nice gesture, too. We stayed in the gothic room, and the bed was so comfy! The property is beautifully decorated and has absolutely everything you could wish for by way of amenities.There's lots of money out there, lots of grants, but it's quite soul destroying trying to get it. After all, who's going to give money to an individual to do up their garden?" The Jauneikas stumbled upon the property in 1998. "We were following the dream," she says. "We both worked in computers, we were starting a family and we were asking ourselves 'where do we want to settle down'. Specialists with cranes were called in to clear the garden. "There were some interesting ferns left behind, some ramonda and a juniper tree, and some beautiful cushion saxifrage, but not as much as you would think," says Angela. Meanwhile, in Aysgarth, Frank Sayer Graham (1859-1946) was making money. He farmed silver fur rabbits in his purpose-built warren at Lady Hill just outside the village. He could kill a rabbit in Aysgarth at 9am and it would arrive, frozen, in London on the 4pm train. From there the fur would go to the great fashion houses of Europe - he is said to have supplied the last tsar of Russia with silver fur for a stole.