History of Earlscliffe House and Garden

The gardens of Earlscliffe have often had an enchanting effect on those who who visit them. So much so that on occasion Earlscliffe has been ranked alongside the most famous gardens in the world.

For example, in 1982 the Robinson Garden at Earlscliffe made its way into the book "Large Gardens and Parks" by Tom Wright alongside Versailles and some of the more celebrated English gardens.[1]

In 1995 after the garden was filmed as part of Don Burke's Australian documentary programme "Burke's Backyard Overseas", Don described "David Robinson’s garden" as one of eight places of interest to visit in Ireland.[2]

And in 1999 it It was awarded the highest accolade in the Good Gardens Guide [3], gaining some controversy along the way [4].

Although all of this occurred in the last 25 years, the location and gardens at Earlscliffe have been enchanting people for over 150 years.

The following pages tell the story of the house and gardens at Earlscliffe from the 1850s up to the present day.

• 1850 to 1901 - Capt William Bunbury McClintock et al
• 1850 to 1969 - former residents and the formal lifestyle of the original Earlscliffe House and Gardens
• Earlscliffe in the early part of the 20th century at the time of Sir John Lumsden
• 1969 to now - changes in the swinging sixties, from formal garden to eclectic collection of exotic plants
• Earlscliffe as seen on television, and the controversy around one visit in particular
• Earlscliffe - articles in books

• [1] Large Gardens and Parks. Maintenance, Management and Design, Tom Wright, Publisher: HarperCollins (July 22, 1982) ISBN: 0246114029
• [2] Burke's Backyard Overseas , Don Burke, 1997, Crows Nest, N.S.W. Titles Distributed by Gary Allen Pty Ltd, ISBN: 0646339796
• [3] Good Gardens Guide, Edited by Peter King, 1999, Publisher: Bloomsbury Pub Ltd; Pocket edition (November 1999), ISBN: 0747540098
• [4] Fertility Symbols, Montagu Don, Observer Life Magazine, 16 August 1998