How Helperby Walled Gardens has been transformed into idyllic wedding venue

Lady Milnes Coates, whose husband, Sir Anthony Milnes Coates, Professor of Medical Microbiology, is the latest generation of the Milnes Coates family to occupy historic Helperby Hall, says it was after hosting the aforementioned anniversary celebrations that she realised the need for a venue with sufficient space, and facilities, to accommodate weddings and other special occasions. Within the landscape of the estate which stretches several across thousand acres, stands the Walled Garden – a tranquil oasis which has evolved through the years.

Pointing to a black and white framed photograph mounted on the chimney breast above the log-burning stove in the cottage previously occupied by the estate’s gardener for over 50 years, Lady Milnes Coates explains that the four-acre site, dating back to the Edwardian era, was originally bordered by fruit on one side and vegetables on the other.

Sir Anthony recalls that when he was a young boy the garden was a productive space – the walls providing the perfect micro-climate for nurturing the produce grown within. “It was quite productive in there. The two wars would have had an effect on it because even part of the main garden of the hall was put down to potatoes.”

Being the custodian of such a vast estate brings with it a wealth of responsibility, and while the Walled Garden has provided various purposes through the years – from feeding the family during the war to bringing enjoyment as a riding arena for their three children – there was an urgent need to refocus on its future.

Maintaining a Grade II-listed structure isn’t an easy task. Planning approval has to be sought and approved. With work to be carried out on some of the walls – and the cupola, the ornate centrepiece dating back to 1904, apparently once home to a stunning eagle sculpture – the family saw the potential to transform this tranquil space through thoughtful landscaping into a place which could bring enjoyment to others.

“We were spending money on restoring the walls in the Walled Garden and we thought ‘why don’t we do something creative?’” says Lady Milnes Coates.

Diversification is also a consideration, as Sir Anthony explains: “It is diversification of the activities of the estate. It is the only way to survive long term. The estate has been in the Milnes Coates family for over 200 years, since 1816.” Plans were drawn up around 2016 and after planning was approved, work began to bring the ambition to reality.

Completed in 2021, the Walled Garden, on High Lane, comprises a sizeable space bordered by four beautiful red brick corner houses, once used as fruit and vegetable stores but now re-purposed for event storage. Working with Yorkshire garden designer Phillippa May, Lady Milnes Coates oversaw the planting of a selection of native trees, silver birch and copper beech hedges. The addition of planters dotted around the avenues and pathways surrounding the three lawns add detail and interest to this sympathetically restored natural environment.

Land agent Blair Wallace, managing director of the Boroughbridge-based Land Management Partnership, helps to looks after the estate. He works alongside events management company Dine, which is now busy promoting this flexible space – perfect for large or more intimate celebrations, which can be tailored to suit guests’ needs.

Blair explains that the garden is a licensed wedding venue and the Cupola can be used for the wedding ceremony. It also provides the perfect platform for a band to perform as part of the entertainment. The flexibility of the space also allows for a marquee for the celebrations, and there are areas where guests can relax and savour the surroundings or play giant lawn games supplied by Yorkshire Games Hire. The intricate re-roofing of this ornate structure was carried out by York-based Ebor Construction.

Interestingly, some of the restoration work within the Walled Garden was carried out by David Moorey and his sons Andrew and Oliver. David’s late grandfather, Edward Moorey, originally worked on the cupola in the 1900s.

A rare find during the work within the Walled Garden was a piece of lead flashing from the corner tower with JE Moorey and the date scratched into it with a penknife.

David, who is carrying on the family building company, says JE Moorey was his uncle, John Edwin, who was also involved in the original work. “It’s always interesting,” he says of the family’s latest involvement, repairing the gateway arches and some of the corner house towers.

“A lot of estate owners are diversifying from the traditional use of a walled garden because they don’t need to grow vast quantities of vegetables,” says Blair.

The refurbishment of the nearby Gardener’s Cottage has transformed this quaint three-bedroomed abode into a stylish and sumptuous bolthole for guests who are staying during the celebrations. Casting her creative eye over the interior, Lady Milnes Coates has used her background in textiles to great effect, introducing splashes of colour through her choice of soft furnishings which enhance the neutral decor and complement the modern kitchen. She also master-minded the reconfiguration of a downstairs sitting room into an additional bedroom, extending the scope of the accommodation which also provides a relaxing retreat as an Airbnb.

Blair talks of further diversification, focusing on the potential of properties for holiday lettings. “We are in a good location here, which is important. We are between the North Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Dales, York and Harrogate, and only 15 minutes from the A1 as well. It has become more important for land-owning clients to consider additional income streams, especially when justifying the challenge of maintaining the built environment if an income isn’t being generated from it. The income from the Walled Garden allows us to maintain and preserve the garden, including historic features such as the cupola. It has to have a purpose and Lady Milnes Coates and Sir Anthony have found a use for it.”

The first wedding – when the venue launched last year – was that of the couple’s son Thomas to his wife Annabel, giving the family the opportunity to experience first-hand celebrating a special occasion in a place they hold dear, and are keen to protect and preserve for others to enjoy.

“Something that was derelict is now alive,” adds Lady Milnes Coates.

www.walledgardenhelperby.co.uk