“I built a folly to celebrate the Millennium”
A unique folly takes pride of place in this West Sussex garden. Artist Tim Blewitt tells its story
A unique folly takes pride of place in this West Sussex garden, among architectural plants
There can’t be many suburban gardens that are presided over by a towering folly. “I wanted to create a unique building to celebrate the Millennium,” says its creator Tim Blewitt. “I’ve always been interested in follies, and here I started the project by collecting materials from skips, demolition sites and reclamation yards. I was keen to use mainly locally sourced, salvaged materials.” The build took 14 months and by spring 2000, Tim’s iconic folly was finished. “It’s part summerhouse, part storage shed and part-workshop,” he says. “There’s a natural well inside the 4m-high tower, with steps that spiral down to meet the water.” A red light inside the tower switches on automatically at dusk to produce a soft glow through dozens of round holes. “The tower is linked to the main building with a ruined arch; on the other side is a candle-snuffer tower – it’s purely there for decoration.”
“The well was dug by accident,” Tim says. “I was digging a deep 6ft hole with a view to creating an underground entrance for the folly, when the hole started filling with water. So, I changed tack and it became a well. The water table is pretty high here and may be fed by an old water course running off from the Downs. Having my own well is useful when it comes to watering the garden.” The back garden was well developed when Tim and Jean moved here 36 years ago. “I’ve since put my own mark on it though,” says Tim. “I wanted to make sure there’s an interesting viewpoint wherever you stand. “I’ve given the garden a more exotic look by choosing architectural foliage plants such as Fatsia japonica and tree ferns. Though the fatsia is hardy, I wrap up the largest tree fern over winter in its own little jacket. The smaller ones have survived so far without any protection.” A large gunnera and strappy phormium dangle over the pond, with several banana plants nearby. “The last few winters have been so mild that they reached 10ft last year, however the recent cold snap has cut them back to the ground.” Sempervivums are another favourite. “I love them for their sculptural qualities and because they’re all unique,” says Tim. “I have more than 100 varieties in my collection, which I keep in a dedicated sempervivum house, and lots more growing in terracotta pots and ancient stone
sinks outdoors in the garden.” A retired art teacher and successful artist in his own right, Tim’s creative touches can be found all round the garden, including a mosaic table and shrine. “The shrine was inspired by those you see along the Amalfi coast,” he says. “One side represents the creation of earthly paradise; the front is the Garden of Eden while the third side is more sinister, where a monster lays an egg in the Garden. The niche is inlaid with mother of pearl and houses a Buddha statue.”
“I discovered the well by accident... the water table is pretty high here”
Found objects lend their own weathered good looks to the planting displays. “I have a huge anchor, which was dredged from the English Channel by a trawlerman,” says Tim. “There’s also an old cartwheel and a collection of Victorian watering can roses. I find that old cast-iron drainpipe hoppers serve really well as wall planters for geraniums and I use metal fire dogs (log supports) as pot feet for containers. “I won’t tolerate plastic in the garden,” Tim says. “Instead I use terracotta pots, stone troughs (including one from a Turkish bath) and architectural features bought at salvage yards, car boot sales and antiques fairs. “I also enjoy creating living sculptures from shapely plants,” says Tim. “I planted the wisteria 31 years ago as a birthday present for my wife Jean. It’s since been trained and pruned and now has a sculptural quality all its own. “Similarly, there’s an oak tree in my bonsai collection at the back of my greenhouse, that I grew from an acorn colourful corners (clockwise from above) The 30-year-old Wisteria floribunda flowers profusely in May; osteospermum and pinks provide colour; Tim’s new shubbery also has heucheras; exotics flourish by the koi pond; rusty drainpipe hoppers make stylish pelargonium planters, while reclaimed fire dogs are used to support pots
collected at Osterley Park more than two decades ago. Over the years I’ve gradually raised it up and tucked a rock underneath it, and now its trailing roots are wrapped around the rock. It’s a slow process, but worth it.” Tim’s can-do attitude has helped with all sorts of ambitious projects – not least his fantastic folly. “I’m a practical sort of person,” he says. “Bricklaying is the sort of thing anyone can do if they can mix up the ingredients for cement in the right quantities and keep the bricks level.” Other projects have included building a studio, creating a veg patch and digging up some of his large front garden to extend the parking area. “I’ve created a new shrubbery in the process,” he says. “It’s home to all sorts of new plants including a collection of vivid heucheras.”
“I won’t tolerate plastic in the garden. Instead I use terracotta pots and stone”