The Courtyard Garden

A complex courtyard garden around a Grade II listed property in Fenny Compton, Warwickshire, close to the Cotswolds. The space needed to combine a garden, parking, entertaining, guest accommodation and the owners’ existing hot tub, while responding to a significant risk of flash flooding.

“I wanted the flood protection to become part of the architecture of the garden rather than something added afterwards. We created an enclosed courtyard using low walls with openings designed to take temporary flood barriers when required. Within this protected space, perennial planting, lawns and more intimate seating areas allow the different uses of the courtyard to coexist around the historic buildings.”

Aerial view of The Courtyard Garden in Fenny Compton, Warwickshire, showing the Grade II listed property, converted barns, courtyard and parking area.

Aerial view of the courtyard garden showing how planting, parking, entertaining spaces and the historic buildings are brought together.

Converted barns and courtyard with perennial planting, low walls and paved routes forming the enclosed garden.

Enclosed courtyard seating area beside the converted barn, with low walls designed to incorporate temporary flood barriers when required.

Before the redesign, showing the courtyard and converted barns prior to the new planting, walls and flood-resilient garden.

Completed courtyard garden around the Grade II listed house and converted barns in Fenny Compton.

Before the garden was created, showing the existing parking area and open landscape beyond the property.

Path through richly planted perennial borders connecting the different spaces around the courtyard.

Aerial view of the converted barn and courtyard, with low walls, planting and seating integrated around the building.

Courtyard seating space with low brick walls, perennial planting and the converted barn forming an intimate outdoor room.

Colourful perennial planting creating a loose, naturalistic contrast with the formal brick walls of the courtyard.

Pale yellow hollyhock flowering beside the courtyard and historic brick buildings.

Bumblebee feeding on a purple globe artichoke flower in the courtyard planting.

Cardoon, Architectural seed heads and summer planting against a clear sky in The Courtyard Garden.

Layered summer border with Stipa Gigantea, Alcea and Verbena, catching the evening sun.

Courtyard terrace and entertaining space surrounded by relaxed perennial planting beside the converted barn.

Tall white and purple flowering perennials rising through grasses in the richly planted courtyard garden.

Lawn opening towards the surrounding rural landscape, with planted borders and mature trees framing views beyond the garden.

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The Courtyard Garden

The Kitchen Garden

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