Landscape record 0517702000 - Horwood House

First edition 6" map shows house (precursor of that built by Detmar Blow, 1911-12,) surrounded by formal gardens and parkland. Site listed in Desmond, 1984 p284. Recent maps and AP's show major changes took place to the gardens in the 20th century, some contemporary with rebuilding of the house; visible elements in the 1946 AP's are no longer visible (B6).
An Arts and Crafts country house by renowned architects Detmar Blow and Fernand Billerey. The contemporary park and gardens incorporate C18 and C19 features, which were extended and remodelled in Arts and Crafts style c.1911 to complement the house. The 1911 layout, which survives largely intact except for areas north‐west of the house, was influenced by Blow, but also expresses the vision of the owner’s wife and her Head Gardener, Harry Thrower who was the father of Percy Thrower who grew up and began gardening there. The landscape design, which is integral with the house and Blow’s other structures, includes a long formal avenue approach from an imposing gatehouse through the park to a large walled forecourt, and a sequence of garden compartments including terraces, lawns, an ornamental walled garden and the remains of an informal woodland garden, set in parkland overlooking the Vale of Aylesbury. See report for detail (B7).