SCULPTED SERENITY
Lady Cawdor has worked tirelessly to create forward-thinking, symbolic gardens that are worthy of their grand setting, and the result is magnificent, finds Antoinette Galbraith
A result of Lady Cawdor's forward-thinking approach to design, Cawdor Castle's gardens are truly mesmerising
It’s a crisp clear autumn day and Angelika, Dowager Countess of Cawdor, elegant in brown tweed, looks up at the iconic castle she has devoted the past 40 years to preserving. ‘Since the pandemic, for the first time I have been at Cawdor almost without interruption for a year and a half,’ she says. ‘The castle’s strong energy and beneficial vibes have made that a wonderful experience.’
Historic and romantic, Cawdor is worthy of devotion. Set deep in remote Nairnshire countryside the ancestral home of the Thanes of Cawdor and the reputed setting for Duncan’s murder in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Cawdor the castle traces its roots back to William, a 14th-century Thane and supporter of Robert the Bruce.
Bohemia-born Lady Cawdor grew up in the former Rhodesia, lived and worked in Paris until her marriage to Hugh, the 6th Earl in 1979. The couple spent 15 years working together on the castle and garden and after her husband’s death Lady Cawdor continued their work alone. Leading the way into the 18th-century Walled Flower Garden at the side of the house, she admits that taking on a garden in such a historic setting, which attracts upwards of 100,000 visitors a year, remains a challenge – especially having no formal gardening background herself.
Lack of knowledge is well compensated for by her artistic eye and understanding of colour, shapes and form. Passionate about history and conservation she is also knowledgeable about symbolism. Details do not escape her. ‘All our projects are based on research and finding things that have been lost,’ she says, adding that detailed instructions for the Flower Garden found in the archives are a case in point. This space was laid out at the suggestion of the then Earl who was inspired by a French Renaissance garden in the Loire Valley.
As her confidence grew she drew on the existing design while sensitively introducing fresh, new ideas. The collection of sculpture, many by Scottish artists, is continually being added to,
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Taking on a garden in such a historic setting remains a challenge
including a bronze bird feeder by artist Illona Morrice. Current Head Gardener, Mihaly Petre, manages the garden on organic lines assisted by three gardeners and seasonal helpers.
In the Flower Garden is the newly laid out Slate Garden, a homage to the sun, designed in the shape of the Saltire with blue and white plants. The focal point is a fountain by the Kirkcaldy-based artist James Parker using recycled slates from the castle roof to represent the sun. The moon is represented by a crescentshaped slate bench.
Entered by a side gate the Walled Garden has a spectacular, sculptural holly design by Hugh Cawdor in a raised pyramid shape. Inspired by the outline of the Knossos maze the couple found in a mosaic on the floor of a Roman Villa in northern Portugal, the design is centred on a statue of Minotaur by American artist Gregory Ryan.
Sadly the holly roots are too fragile to allow public access but, in spring, this is more than compensated for by the dramatic, yellow laburnum tunnel Hugh Cawdor planted on three sides. The search for a second autumnal blast of drooping gold resulted in planting and training field maples to the outer garden wall.
Tucked behind is the area Lady Cawdor can truly call her own. ‘My husband had the oldest 15th-century part of the gardens within the fortified walls. He told me my part was the second, 16th-century bit,’ she says. Drawing on her knowledge of symbolism she planned a series of four contrasting spaces illuminated with carefully researched symbols. The design process included laying out each space with bamboo sticks and rope.
The entrance to the Paradise Garden is partially hidden because it is difficult to access, but once inside you are rewarded by the sight of the green bronze fountain by the late Catalan sculptor Xavier Corberó surrounded by green foliage and white roses and philadelphus. ‘All are in whiter shades of pale as a symbol of peace. For me peace is monochrome.’
A statue of Adam and Eve leaving Paradise stands at the entrance to the Knot Garden where the intricate box design was based on records suggesting there was once a parterre on this spot. The design symbolises earth and is planted with culinary, still room and medicinal plants and herbs known to the 17th-century botanist John Parkinson.
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The design symbolises earth and is planted with culinary and medicinal plants