Silksworth, Doxford House garden (Doxford Park)

HER Number:
5229

District:
Sunderland

Site Name:
Silksworth, Doxford House garden (Doxford Park)

Place:
Silksworth

Map Sheet:
NZ35SE

Class:
Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces

Site Type: Broad:
Park

Site Type: Specific:
Public Park

General Period:
Post Medieval

Specific Period:
C18-C19

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
Silksworth House (later Doxford House) garden is now a public park. Estate walls remain. The house and garden are now separated by a wall. A grassed embankment runs behind the house, sloping down to a long narrow pond. The pond is a central feature to the layout of the paths which lead to an area where a dene is formed by the steam feeding the pond. To the north is a kitchen garden (HER 5230). The walk to the kitchen garden is via a beech avenue {1}. The remains of a fountain survive in the pond {2}. Although some of the intimate relationship between the house and garden has been lost, excellent views of the house can still be had acrodd the open spaces of the park. The northern entrance to the park by the West Lodge still features some of the estate walls and a swathe of mature trees. To the north of the park there are open fields and the walled garden (HER 5230). Adjacent to the walled garden were glass houses, a mushroom house and a potting shed, a laundry, stores, workers cottages and a slaughter house. The southern part of the park are still discernible as the landscaped gardens of the house.

Easting:
375

Northing:
528

Grid Reference:
NZ375528

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 5229 >> F. Green, 1995, A Guide to the Historic Parks and Gardens of Tyne and Wear, p 21 F. Green, 1995, Historic Parks & Gardens in Tyne and Wear, Stage 2 Research; Sunderland City Council, November 2009, Silksworth Hall Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Strategy, Consultation Draft