RHS Bridgewater is very much a work in progress, turning what was the Worsley New Hall estate, and later Worsley Hall Garden Centre, into a huge RHS Garden. We have always been fascinated to see the hidden parts of the estate, so when the new project began we joined the RHS in the hope that members would at some point be given a sneak preview. And so Sue and I found ourselves on one of the guided tours. We saw the inside of the Gardeners Cottage for the first time, plus more walled garden areas under restoration, plus various features only just, in some cases, being rediscovered as the grounds are attended to. This includes the lake, the terraces where the house (demolished in 1949) stood, the main yew-lined drive, the entrance to the underground stables, the cold war bunker building....This last one we never knew was there, and in the last phase of restoration the plan is to open this up again. Apparently a team from Salford University have been inside the bunker and recorded it fully, so we must check out their website and have a look.
The walk around the grounds took around two hours, and for a cost of £5 each was definitely fantastic value. Here's a selection of images from our tour, shot using the Pentax K-3 II and SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm WR lens.
Inside the temporary reception building
Guide No 1 doing her intro talk
Guide No 2 in the Gardeners Cottage kitchen
The Gardeners Cottage (Grade II LIsted)
Wall repairs under way
The lake, drained for waterproofing
Woodland near the original estate entrance
A volunteer passing by
Stairway behind terrace where hall stood
Entrance to underground stables
Cold War Bunker
The tour group pauses
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