Comments on: Freddie’s Folly, The Gibberd Garden, Harlow, Essex

By: Editor

Editor — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:11:17 +0000

In reply to David Edgar. Good morning David. Thank you - this is most interesting.

By: David Edgar

David Edgar — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:52:22 +0000

Gibbberd’s design for the ‘Roman’ Temple shows not only a plan but also a co-ordinated Front Elevation (or cross section) which makes the whole creation come alive. J C (Jack) Shepherd and G A (Geoffrey) Jellicoe visited and measured Italian Renaissance gardens in the 1920s, publishing in 1925 “Italian Gardens of the Renaissance”. It has been republished in various forms later. Many of the plans are accompanied by a cross section. The understanding of the gardens, with villa, trees, pools, paths and walls and the profile of the ground shown against the plan gives a sensation of almost being there. The authors also took a lot of dreamy black and white photos.

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:27:09 +0000

In reply to Sally. Thank you Sally. I’m delighted Jane enjoyed an afternoon exploring follies!

By: Sally

Sally — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:15:11 +0000

In reply to Editor.

Jane was delighted to read your article – here’s her reply to me:
“This is a fascinating introduction to a byway of architectural interest of which I had no knowledge ….thank you so much. Needless to say I have been lost to follies on-line all afternoon and am about to send a link to Gibberd Garden friends.”

By: TOM GARDNER

TOM GARDNER — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 02:36:52 +0000

TOM (USA)
NOW 80, MY FIRST TIME VISITING EUROPE, DURING THE SUMMER OF 1964 – ((AUSTRIA, GERMANY, DENMARK, FRANCE, AND ITALY) … MY EYES AND MIND WERE –
‘SET ON FIRE’, VIA THE BEAUTY AND INPACT CREATED BY SUCH STRUCTURES.
HAVING STATED THE ABOVE, IT FOLLOWS THAT YOUR DEDICATION, AND MOST GENEROUS EFFORTS – ALLOWS US ALL TO CONTINUE THIS ENRICHMENT .
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
TOM

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:17:45 +0000

In reply to Sally. Hello Sally. Great to hear your memories of the garden over the years. What a great spot to remember and celebrate a life. Thanks for sharing with your friend and please let me know if she can add to the story.

By: Sally

Sally — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:57:34 +0000

We’re well acquainted with the Gibberd Gardens as one of Terry’s cousins & wife, who lived in Old Harlow, were enthusiastic supporters & very involved. Not far from us here in Hertford.
Gordon died recently (in his 90’s) & after a woodland burial the Wake was held at GG.
No time for a walk around, sadly! In the early days it was quite a perilous experience!
Lovely article, I’ll forward it to Jane, Gordon’s widow.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 11:16:12 +0000

In reply to Garance. Hello Garance. It must have been wonderful to tour the garden with Lady Gibberd and to hear the stories behind the sculpture. It’s a fascinating garden, I’m hoping to revisit soon.

By: Garance

Garance — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 11:03:33 +0000

I visited the Gibberd Garden with fellow Sculpture Studies Masters students around 2001 when Lady Gibberd hosted us for lunch and a walk about – she was hoping one of us might go and work there. At the time, we were more focussed on the wonderful sculptural works in the garden and didn’t ask about the provenance of the follies/architectural pillars. Thanks for that post, always more to learn.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:16:58 +0000

In reply to David Winpenny. Hello David. Yes, there were models both ancient and modern (relatively) which might have inspired Gibberd. I’m sure he would have known the ruins at Virginia Water, and no doubt the columns in the Forum in Rome. I’m so pleased that he was inspired to build his own temple in such a tranquil corner of his garden.