In the late 19th century, Ludwig Messel, a member of a well known German family who had settled in England, purchased the grand house on the Nymans Estate at Haywards Heath in West Sussex. From that time in 1890, three generations of garden-lovers were to live in the house set within 600 acres on a sloping site with its fascinating topiary features which contrast with plants from warmer climes around the world.
James Comber – Nymans' Head Gardener for 60 Years
Messel's creative head gardener from 1895 was James Comber, whose expertise helped form the distinctive plant collections at Nymans. Rhododendrons and camellias flourished in the gardens which were unusual at the time and which combined so well with plantings of Erica eucryphia and magnolia. The distinguished garden architect William Robinson had much to do with the formation of their famous wild garden. Robinson’s passion for wild plants would surely have ensured the informal planting of shrubs and trees. Sir Edmund Loder was another friend who would have been useful in the planting the azaleas, camellias and rhodos for which the garden is now world famous.
The Nymans’ Nomenclature
Nymans is believed to be the origin of many sports, selections and hybrids, both planned and serendipitous, some of which can be identified by the term nymanensis, "of Nymans": Eucrypia x nymansensis, cordifolia and Eucrypia glutinosa. Many gardeners grow Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’, Camellia ‘Maud Messel’ and Forsythia suspensa ‘Nymans’ with its intriguing bronze young stems –so wonderful in early spring and a familiar shrub to gardeners.
Rebuilding Nymans
Lt. Col. Leonard Messel, son of Ludwig succeeded to the property in 1915. He replaced the existing Regency house with the picturesque stone manor, designed by Sir Walter Tapper using a mellow late Gothic/Tudor style. He and his wife Maude extended the garden to the north and subscribed to seed collecting expeditions in the Himalayas and South America.
Open to the Public
The Messels opened the garden to the public and by the 1930s, it was certainly the place to visit. However, during World War II (1939-1945), there was a huge reduction in staff and to add to problems, a disastrous fire which burnt the house. The building was partially rebuilt and became the home of Leonard Messel’s daughter, Anne, and her second husband the 6th Earl of Rosse. Following Leonard Messel’s death in 1953, it was willed to the National Trust with 275 acres of woodland, one of the first gardens taken on by the Trust. Lady Rosse continued to serve as Garden Director.
The Garden Today
The garden suffered much damage during the October storm of 1987. Nymans lost hundreds of mature trees and many of the shrubs. Unfortunately, the pinetum, one of the Messel’s earliest features was destroyed, but this is a wonderful place to visit.
Source: Gardening Illustrated 1990
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