Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens are the most popular, historic parks in Dover. They are located 2.5 miles north west of Dover town centre in the Alkham Valley, part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Alkham Valley Road separates Kearsney Abbey (in the Parish of River) and Russell Gardens which is in Temple Ewell.
Both parks are carefully designed landscapes. Thousands of tonnes of earth were moved and trees planted to create the slopes, woods, water courses and lake. The River Dour, a spring-fed chalk stream, flows through the parks. Combined with ornamental lakes, this gives the parks a picturesque landscape style.
The origins of both parks can be traced back to grand country houses and estates built for prominent local industrialists in the early 19th and 20th centuries.
www.KearsneyParks.co.uk
Kearsney Abbey is laid out in an informal style. Its 10 acres of open parkland and lakes are popular with families.
Although never a monastic estate, the history of Kearsney Abbey can be traced back to the Norman Conquest.
The park as it exists today can be attributed to John Minet Fector, a local banker and merchant, who built a grand mansion on the site between 1820-1822.
Two adjoining ornamental lakes on the course of the River Dour provide a haven for water fowl. Kearsney Abbey also has a fine collection of specimen trees, including Beech, Lime and Yew. A prominent feature is a Cedar of Lebanon which is believed to be one of the oldest specimens in the country.
Russell Gardens is Grade II Listed in the English Heritage Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest. It covers 10 hectares and is laid out in a formal style.
Originally known as Kearsney Court Park & Gardens, they were designed by the renowned Edwardian landscape architect, Thomas H. Mawson (1861-1933). Kearsney Court is believed to be one of the first independent commissions by Mawson, and is a very rare example of his work in the south east. Several set piece photographs of Kearsney Court were included in Mawson's book, The Art & Craft of Garden Making, which became a standard reference in its day.
The challenging steep terrain of the Alkham Valley provided Mawson with the ideal opportunity to create his signature design features - great terraces, pergolas and architectural features in a garden context. The magnificent 170m long canal pond, and Palladian-style pergola bridges and boathouse pavilion form the central architectural features of the park.
May/June Update
As summer gets underway, now is a great time to get out and enjoy the amazing Kearsney Parks.
It continues to be a busy time of year in the parks for the wildlife, with a whole range of highlights, including the young cygnets on the water. The parents are protective of their young, so please be careful when you visit the park and keep a safe distance from all wildlife.
Works are also well underway on the exciting new-look play area for Kearsney Abbey. This follows the go ahead for the £155k renovation, with funding from the National Lottery ‘Awards For All’ Scheme and DDC. The area is set to provide a range of equipment, with a particular focus on inclusive play equipment to cater for all abilities. Works are due to be completed by the start of the school summer holidays in July.
We were also delighted to welcome visitors to the Farm and Forest Day at Kearsney Abbey in April. Thank you to everyone for coming along and making the event such a success. It was lovely to see so many people enjoying the day, despite the weather, and visiting the range of farm animals, stalls and activities. And thanks to everyone for your feedback on the day, which will help us to shape future events in the area.
Kearsney Café update
The café in Kearsney Abbey will need to close for two days on 11 & 12 June for essential maintenance. However, the kiosk will be open from 10am for these two days with a range of sweet treats, hot and cold drinks, and ice cream. The café is having work done to its gas supply, and we are also looking to carry out routine maintenance works to refresh, repair and paint the inside of the building and clean the outside and patio area at the same time. The toilets outside the café will remain open as usual. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you in advance for your understanding.
Latest information
For all the latest information on the Kearsney Parks, please see the website at www.kearsneyparks.co.uk