Historic parks, gardens and battlefields
Historic parks, gardens and battlefields are places of historical interest because of their layout, features and architectural qualities.
Many historic parks and gardens contain collections of mature or exotic trees and shrubs which show the history of species over the last two centuries.
Our nationally registered parks and gardens
Historic England has a Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historical interest in England.
There are over 1650 sites on the national register and further sites are added regularly.
The 8 registered sites in South Gloucestershire are:
- Ashwicke Hall
- Badminton House
- Dodington House
- Dyrham Park
- Stoke Park
- Thornbury Castle
- Tortworth Court
- Warmley House
The register entries for these sites are held on Historic England’s National Heritage List for England.
Locally important parks and gardens
There are also other historic parks or gardens of local importance to South Gloucestershire.
These make a valuable contribution to the heritage, environment and local distinctiveness of our area.
All of the locally important parks and gardens can be viewed on the Know Your Place website. We will seek to protect their design, appearance and character when assessing planning applications
Learn more about the rich heritage of parks and gardens on the Parks and Gardens website.
Battlefields
Registered battlefield sites provide valuable historic information about the landscape and its military significance.
There are 47 English battlefields and one of those is in South Gloucestershire at Lansdown.
Registering battlefields offers protection to them through the planning system and promotes a better understanding of their significance and public enjoyment.
Our history
The Battle of Lansdown Hill took place in 1643. It was one of a series of battles resulting from the struggle for control between King and Parliament.
As well as being an attractive landscape, the battlefield has a wide variety of historic features dating from the battle and earlier.
A memorial was erected to the Royalist Sir Bevil Grenville on the crest of the hill. The stone wall on the plateau is likely to have been a feature of the battlefield in 1643.
You can complete a circuit using public roads and footpaths with 2 key viewpoints accessible for the public.
Find more information on Historic England’s registered battlefields.
Development affecting historic parks, gardens and battlefields
Development proposals will be expected to maintain the historic character, appearance and setting of historic parks and gardens or registered battlefields.
Where development proposals affect a park, garden or battlefield whose character has been eroded, we may seek to secure the restoration of features, landscaping or historic planting schemes, or contributions towards such works.