21st Century Garden

The Orpheus Project

For over 200 years the huge formal garden at Boughton lay hidden, reclaimed by nature. But now a substantial restoration programme has enabled its beauty to flourish once more.

With rejuvenation of the garden gathering steam, the current Duke was passionate about adding a 21st century edge. He wanted a creative endeavour that would compliment and enhance the triumphant landscapes of his ancestors. So the Duke commissioned Kim Wilkie to design a striking new landform, Orpheus. It is named after the famed musician of Greek mythology who, when his wife Eurydice died, went down into the underworld to try and reclaim her. His music was so beautiful that Hades relented and allowed Eurydice to return to the world of the living.

Orpheus takes the form of an inverted pyramid, sunk into the earth and open to the elements. It is at once a negative space and a sculptural form. Its serene lines seem to invite you to descend into its depths and enjoy the tranquillity.

It was completed in 2009 and you can see a clip of Alan Titchmarsh exploring Orpheus below.