… were the reasons for making a garden separate from Great Ambrook House and its existing garden, with access via a short carriage drive. Graham and Lyon were both homosexual at a time when this was outlawed. Whilst at Oxford himself, Graham would have followed the trial of a fellow Oxonian, Oscar Wilde.
The garden’s four acres were created across the boundary of two fields with an old quarry as its centrepiece and taking advantage of the dramatic possibilities of the sloping terrain. It was surrounded by 15-foot walls and was designed as an intimate, private space where Graham could entertain his circle of friends, with a tennis court, pools, an elaborate summerhouse and multiple, landscaped walks.
Following Graham’s death in 1928, aged just 56, Great Ambrook changed hands a number of times with The Italian Garden eventually falling into neglect in the 1960s, gradually turning to woodland.
The Italian Garden at Great Ambrook was recognised with a Grade II listing on the Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England from Historic England in June 2014.