Ryde Architecture

ST. JOHN’S HOUSE (Isle of Wight)

Built between 1760 and 1769 by General Amherst. It was named after him, following his victory at St. John’s, New Brunswick, Canada in 1758. The grounds were laid out by Humphry Repton, the eminent landscape gardener. The house belonged to the Simeon family for many years. Latterly Bishop Lovett Secondary school.

Below is a description of the gardens in September 1875
A kind of fairy land has just been created among us.  The fernery that has been made among the trees of St. John’s House is one of the most beautiful things of the sort we have ever seen.  It is from the design of Mr. A. Blake of Aberdeen, and he has been for some time on the spot and has carefully superintended the work.

The fernery consists of a sort of glass dome, which at the highest point, is raised above 20ft. from the ground, while its circumference rests on jutting pieces of rock, or on a carpet of heather, which flourishes around the spot.  The diameter of the fernery is rather more than 40ft.  It is intersected by little paths, and has two main approaches—one upon the eastern and the other on the western side; they are so skilfully curved and cut out amidst sloping banks, as very greatly to add to the beauty of the place, and they seem to increase its size.  The vistas you get through the surrounding trees are especially good from these approaches.  At one point you could fancy yourself to be in an extensive wood.  In this most delightful spot some of the choicest ferns and plants of New Zealand, Australia, and the temperate regions of India, China, and other countries are gathered together, and they seem to be as much at home as if they were in their native glens.

Among the more prominent may be noticed Dicksonia squarrosa and antartica, Pteris umbrosa, Todea africans, Cyathea Smithii, ditto dealbata, Davallia polyantha, Osmunda capensis, ditto cinnamomea and ditto spectabilis, Woodwardia orientalis, Davallia tenuifolia; and there is one gigantic fern, which we believe is quite new in this country, and has not yet been named.  It is about 16ft. high.  Glorious liles also abound here as well; and the specimens of Lilium auratum from Japan could scarcely be better suited than they are.  Cyclamens from the Greek Isles are presently to be introduced into some of the multitudinous nooks and corners which abound within and without the fernery.  Spring flowers in their season will start up under your feet

Altogether, Mr. Gassiot must be warmly congratulated on having brought such a home of beauty among us.  He has spared no expense, and he has planted a thing of joy in our midst which can never fail in being a constant source of interest to all who visit it.  It should be added to the above that from a scientific point of view great advantage may probably be derived from his operations.  It is not every one who can experiment in this way with rare and costly plants and ferns; but should they do well under their present circumstances, others may be led to do something of the same sort in a humbler way, and at all events several plants will have “half-hardy” written against their names for the future, which have not yet enjoyed such a distinction at all.  When it is understood that you have the trickling of running water and the presence of singing birds among the ferns, it will be at once allowed that there is not much left here to be wished for.

More about John Peter Gassiot here

Note:
Humphry Repton 1752-1818, who laid-out the original gardens, was born in Bury St. Edmunds, the son of a collector of Excise John Repton, and Martha (née Fitch of Moor Hall, Stoke by Clare, Suffolk). In 1762, his father set up a transport business in Norwich, where Humphry attended Norwich Grammar School. At age twelve, he was sent to the Netherlands to learn Dutch and prepare for a career as a merchant. However, Repton was befriended by a wealthy Dutch family and the trip may have done more to stimulate his interest in ‘polite’ pursuits such as sketching and gardening.  He was the last great designer of the classic phase of the English Landscape Garden, often regarded as the successor to Capability Brown.

Source: IW Observer, RSHG Archive & Wikipedia
Images: RSHG & Roy Brinton Collection
Article: Ann Barrett