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Kilver Court a Somerset set of buildings. It has landscaped gardens, the Sharpham Park Shop, a Natural Health Centre, Harlequin Cafe, function rooms and the Mulberry Factory Shop.
HISTORY
Kilver Court has a history dating to the 15th Century. Shepton Court was just one of several small industrial developments at Kilver Court, grouped around the River Sheppey, which runs through the grounds. The river was used at that time to power the many mills established throughout the site, and the ponds and weirs that dam the river are used today as part of the landscaped gardens.
It was once the home of the Whiting family, who were mill owners and woollen merchants. One of the family sons was Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, who was put to death on the Tor following dissolution of the Abbey by Henry VIII in 1539. The King’s men arrested Richard Whiting in what was said to be his ‘favourite kitchen’ at the Abbey property at Sharpham Park.
The Great House at Kilver Court is a typical example of a 17th century Shepton Mallet town house and would have been built as a symbol of success by the mill owner, and close enough to the mill for him to oversee the workers.
Woollen production finished in 1830, and the site was taken over by ‘silk throwers’, the Hardesty Brothers who lived in the Great House, and were well known for their interest in cock-fighting and dog-fighting. Their habitation ended however when the industrial revolution hit Shepton Mallet and the house was then divided into 2 dwellings. During the industrial revolution the local people hit out at the lack of work, and rioted throughout the town attacking many mills. Kilver Court was no exception and the brothers were left with a burnt out shell.
Kilver Court was then taken on by Mr Ernest Jardine, MP of East Somerset who established the site as ‘model factory’. As part of this model, he set up ‘Jardine’s Park’or 'Jardine's Garden', using the mill ponds as a boating lake and the surrounding gardens for the workers recreation. Fruit and vegetables were also grown to provide mid-day meals for the employees. This revolutionary style of employment worked well and the factory continued lace production until it closed during the Great Depression of 1929.
Francis Showering joined the well known family business in 1929 and in 1947 produced the experimental drink ‘Babycham’. The success prompted massive expansion and so Showerings acquired the Kilver Court buildings that sat alongside the river Sheppey as a production site. Jardine’s Park and the mill, which had lain empty, were acquired during further expansion in the late 1950’s. The Showerings have been brewing and making cider in Shepton Mallet for over 200 years, and their first brewery was at the former Ship Inn which stands at the front of the current Kilver Court Site. Part of the original brewery in Kilver Street still remains and is used for brewing still.
Francis Showering oversaw the landscaping of the gardens during 1960 and 1961, based on the Chelsea Flower Show's Gold award winning design by George Whiteleg, who spent time at Kilver Court to oversee the project.
At one stage the Mill Pond was adorn with wild fowl and pink flamingos.
It was also in the 1960’s that the Great House became part of the Showerings, and then Allied Domecq, head quarters. In 1996 Roger Saul bought Kilver Court to establish a new headquarters for Mulberry Company, the British Designer Fashion Brand he established at Chilcompton in 1971.
Over a ten year period the whole complex was renovated and as part of that the School House was turned into the Mulberry Factory Shop. The Great House became the show house for the Mulberry at Home collection and many of the interior decoration features you see today were created by Roger in the late ‘90’s. The gardens were renovated under Chris Bath, the Head Gardener. The formal parterre and herbaceaous borders were designed and planted up by Roger Saul. The Parterre taken from the design of the 'Place de Invalides' in Paris, home of Nepoleon's tomb and the French Army Museum.
Charlton Viaduct is an English Heritage Grade I listed monument and is the longest of seven viaducts, at 317 yards, built for the 26-mile stretch of the Somerset and Dorset (aka the S&D or Slow and Dirty) Railway between Evercreech Junction, Bath and Minehead. Opened in 1874 and closed in 1966 during the Governments decision to close many of the rail systems. The line crossed the difficult Mendip Hills, and consequently had five tunnels and the seven large viaducts. Charlton Viaduct, at 50ft, is not the tallest – that accolade goes to the Bath Road viaduct which is also in Shepton Mallet and still standing. The Charlton Viaduct offers a backdrop to the Kilver Court Gardens. The original structure was built for a single track but between 1888 and 1894 most of the line was doubled, including the viaduct, widened by about 15ft on the inside of its curve. The viaduct comprises of 27 arches, each span 27ft wide, and is built of squared rubble limestone masonry, except for the arch barrels and parts of the widened span, which are brick. Many of the arches stand in the Kilver Court Gardens. Since the closure of the railway in 1966 the viaduct has been privately owned and maintained.
TODAY
The Gardens are open to the public and is known as the 'Secret Garden of Somerset' as the garden's are tucked behind the old Mill buildings. The Great House converted to a Gift Shop and Cafe, the old Mill Buildings converted to banqueting suits, and a British Designer Emporium.