A trio of celebrated exhibitors from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has equipped local architects and garden designers with tips on maximising light, water and space at a special event at Bowcliffe Hall.
Internationally acclaimed garden sculptor David Harber, family business Alitex which creates Victorian Glasshouse conservatories and oak outdoor furniture producer Burvill shared their unique insights at Bowcliffe Hall’s award-winning Blackburn Wing which pays tribute to unsung aviation pioneer Robert Blackburn.
The companies’ outstanding craftsmanship is encapsulated in the grounds of the nineteenth century; grade 11 listed Bowcliffe Hall where Jonathan Turner, serial entrepreneur and CEO of The Bayford Group, has spearheaded a £6m, multi-phase restoration.
Jonathan said:
It was a privilege to witness the inspirational vision of the UK’s top crafts people and horticulturalists giving us the benefit of their combined wealth of experience in how to capture,- and incorporate – critical elements including light and water – to create sensational indoor and outdoor spaces.
The 200 year old Bowcliffe Hall – the headquarters of the Bayford Group which is marking its centenary in 2019 – is the ancestral home of Robert Blackburn, the first Yorkshireman to design and build a powered aeroplane.
The multi-phase restoration of the hall, where redundant space has been converted into offices, also features a ‘Drivers Club’ restaurant for business tenants and guests – capturing the golden age of aviation when the Blackburns’ played host to guests including aircraft pioneers, media proprietors, RAF officials and national politicians such as Amy Johnson, Lord Northcliffe and Winston Churchill.