Perhaps the most intriguing of all the gardens at Hever Castle is the Italian Garden, full of colourful plants and bursting with history.
Past owner William Waldorf Astor was the Italian Interior Minister from 1882-1885 and this began a love affair with everything Italian, especially the artwork. On purchasing the Hever Castle Estate in 1903, he sought to bring a touch of Italy to the Kent High Weald; creating the Italian Garden with Joseph Cheal and Son. Hever Castle Gardens are home to statues from some very famous locations in Rome – the Forum of Trajan, Villa Orsini, Villa Borghese, Villa Taverna, Villa Patrizi and Pompeii.
One of the oldest pieces is in the Italian Garden is a Cinerarium, which was made to hold cremated remains and in this case possibly a whole family! It is inscribed C.SEI C.L CROCI SEIAE C.L FELICVLAE COL. SEI MARITI FILI (C. Seius Crocus, his wife Seia Felicula and their son S Seius Maritus) and dates from the 1st century AD.
Astor was somewhat eclectic in his collecting and we have statues, busts, well heads, cisterns, sarcophagi (mainly children’s), columns, capitals, altars and 6 large storage amphorae from Pompeii to name just a few. They range in age from 1st century AD up to the 19th.
The statues continue to surprise and delight visitors today, but given their rich history they require a lot of maintenance to remain in pristine condition.
We are in year 6 of a 10 year cleaning programme in partnership with Cliveden Conservation. The best way to clean statues is warm water with a sensitive detergent and a scrubbing brush. How often they are cleaned really depends on what the statue is made of, the Nymphs on the Loggia fountain are made of Pentelic marble so it is very noticeable when they need a clean.
Next time you’re walking through the Italian Garden consider that some of the sculptures are almost 2000 years old – you never know what treasure you’ll find hidden on Pompeiian Wall!
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.