June 2022: Kingswood Memories
May 25 2022
William Champion’s Gardens, Warmley
The remarkable and rare surviving 18th century Garden of the industrialist William Champion is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, together with Champion’s brass mill, which houses Kingswood Heritage Museum, and his original pin factory (the Clocktower).
The Garden is designated Grade II on the UK Parks & Gardens Register, and contains a number of historic 18th century features that are all listed Grade II: a concealed 18th century grotto; the giant Statue of Neptune, once towering above a huge lake; the rare ‘snail’ viewing mound; ‘Echo Pond’, and Champion’s ‘summerhouse’ in the woods.
The photograph illustrates the grotto, with its secret underground passages and chambers.
