Secret garden unveiled
One of the most enchanting children’s books is Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. Due to his brother’s contagious illness, Tom is exiled to his uncle’s flat in a big house with no garden. Awake late one night, he hears the grandfather clock strike 13, and finds to his amazement that the back door now opens on to a large sunlit garden.
That is how it feels to discover St Wilfrid’s Rectory Garden. Very few know it is there, and even fewer have had the good fortune to visit.
Info
Address 11 High Petergate, York YO1 7EN, +44 (0)1904 624767, www.stwilfridsyork.org.uk, rectory@stwilfridsyork.org.uk | Public Transport 5-minute walk from Bootham Row car park. Closest bus stop: Exhibition Square | Hours The church is open daily for services. Check the website for details of garden openings.| Tip Another garden, recently reopened to the public, lies behind York Art Gallery on Exhibition Square. It can be accessed from Museum Gardens or Marygate, and it is open year-round.
St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church itself is striking. Completed in 1864, it is a classic example of Victorian Gothic Revival style; look out for the ornately carved main doorway. With a tower 147 feet high it gives the impression when approached from Museum Street that it is taller than the Minster, although the optical illusion dissipates as you walk past.
While the church enjoys an imposing presence on Duncombe Place, the garden, roughly triangular in shape, is utterly hidden. On one side stands the church itself; on another, York Theatre Royal, with St Wilfrid’s Rectory enclosing it from High Petergate. This was rebuilt in 1725. Three storeys high and with a doorway flanked by columns, it has an imposing façade.
The rectory’s garden is one of the largest within the city walls. And its location offers a unique view of York Minster and the nearby historic buildings. Beautifully maintained, it comprises a manicured lawn traversed by a stone path, lots of mature trees and shrubs, and some flowerbeds, which add a burst of colour in the summer.
Over the years, the garden has been used for various parish events. Occasionally, it is open to the wider public. Even residents who have lived in York for many years are astonished to discover this secret green oasis. Catch it if you can.
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