Known for its grand Edwardian charm and spectacular Surrey setting, Polesden Lacey offers sweeping countryside views, historic gardens and royal connections.
But one of its most beloved spaces - the fragrant Rose Garden at the heart of the estate - is now entering a new chapter.
The National Trust has launched an ambitious restoration project to preserve the garden’s iconic wooden pergola, ensuring future generations can continue to wander beneath arches of climbing roses for years to come.
A rose garden with royal history
Created by society hostess Margaret Greville in the early 20th century, the Rose Garden was designed as a quintessentially English retreat for guests visiting her Surrey estate.
Historic climbing and rambling roses spill across wooden pergolas, framed by lavender-lined pathways and warm brick walls.
Among those guests were the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who famously spent part of their 1923 honeymoon at Polesden Lacey.
The Rose Garden became one of the estate’s defining spaces - romantic, secluded and deeply tied to the property’s story.
Today, visitors still flock to the garden each summer when the roses burst into bloom, filling the air with scent and colour against the backdrop of the Surrey countryside.
Photo: Eddie Hyde
Why the Pergola needs saving
While the Rose Garden remains one of Surrey’s most photographed National Trust gardens, time has taken its toll on the wooden pergola structure that supports the roses - and the aging timber now requires full replacement to prevent further structural deterioration.
At the same time, some of the historic roses themselves have begun struggling with disease, age and the effects of climate change.
The restoration project aims to preserve the garden’s historic character while improving its long-term sustainability.
A restoration rooted in Surrey craftsmanship
One of the most fascinating elements of the project is its commitment to traditional conservation techniques and local woodland management.
The new pergola will be constructed using sweet chestnut timber coppiced from the Polesden Lacey estate itself during winter months, helping reduce sap flow and minimise splitting in the wood.
Specialist contractors will work alongside the estate’s gardening team, volunteers and local craftspeople to carefully rebuild the structure using heritage woodworking methods.
The project will also involve replanting many of the roses, creating healthier conditions for future growth while remaining faithful to the original Edwardian design.
Visiting the Rose Garden during the restoration
The Rose Garden remains a major attraction at Polesden Lacey, particularly in late spring and summer for A Celebration of Roses when the climbing roses are at their peak.
Visitors can still enjoy the garden while fundraising and preparatory work continues, although temporary closures are expected during key stages of the restoration.
Alongside the restoration campaign, the estate has introduced seasonal rose talks, photography workshops and fundraising initiatives to celebrate the garden’s legacy and involve the local community.
A Surrey garden worth preserving
In many ways, the pergola project is about more than timber and roses. It’s about protecting one of Surrey’s most treasured historic gardens - a place where heritage, horticulture and landscape come together in a uniquely English setting.
For visitors, Polesden Lacey’s Rose Garden offers something increasingly rare: a quiet place to slow down, breathe in the scent of summer roses and step into a piece of living history.
And thanks to this restoration, that experience should continue to flourish for decades to come.
How to support Polesden Lacey’s Re-Rambling the Roses campaign
- Purchase an exclusive rose pergola pin badge from visitor reception or the gift shop at Polesden Lacey for a suggested donation of £3.
- Text ROSE to 70525 to donate £5.
- Donate what you can spare in person when you visit Polesden Lacey, or by clicking the 'donate now' button on their website.
- Ask about volunteering at Polesden Lacey to help the team care for the plants growing in Mrs Greville’s beloved walled Rose Garden.
