1. The Hermitage: aerial view
house originally built in c1810 and rebuilt in 1895 following a fire.
Coach House built in c LBII
Walled Garden built c1810 with glasshouses added in c1895
The Grounds
evidence of the early C19 designed landscape remains Local List Site

2. Historic OS maps
1887 with orchard trees in the walled kitchen garden and links to circuit path in the partially wooded grounds
1898 with glasshouses added

3. Local List: statement of significance
The Hermitage Garden Godshill SZ
In 1810 Michael Hoy, a Russian merchant, built a mansion house and a great column, known as the Hoy Monument, on the highest point of the down behind the house, to commemorate the Czar’s visit to England in 1814.
In 1843, following the death of James Hoy sales particulars describe a ‘beautiful cottage residence’ and ‘wooded garden and fishponds’, ‘plantations and pleasure grounds which abound in the most luxuriant American shrubs, extend over nine acres’.
Despite the loss of Michael Hoy’s house and the ruinous condition of the gazebos, the designed grounds of The Hermitage still provide evidence of the original layout.
The ornamental woodland walk with vistas and gazebos is significant, as are the remains of the walled garden and the pond.
The beech woodland surrounding the grounds and at Snipe End is an interesting feature, possibly originally established by Hoy, although the existing trees are probably of more recent date.
18/05/2001

4. The Hermitage in 2014
The main eastern elevation

5. The Hermitage walled garden in 2014

6. Application for proposed new house
Proposed South Elevation
Proposed Site Plan

7. Part of Design / Heritage Statement

8. Historic designed landscape issues
The former walled kitchen garden is an interesting and rare (on the IW) surviving example associated with an early C19 ‘gentleman’s country residence’.
The historic layout indicates the walled garden was a carefully planned feature within the designed landscape reflecting the owners lifestyle and status.
The walls are in very poor condition largely due to tree damage.
The original use, and C20 plant nursery use, are no longer viable.
A structural report gives an estimate of £105,000 (plus VAT) for repair and rebuilding the walls which is considered realistic.
Some form of enabling development appears necessary to justify this cost.
A single house appears to be the least intensive option.

9. IWGT Comments
In principle IWGT welcomed the proposed restoration of the former kitchen garden walling as
a heritage asset in its own right, currently at obvious risk
an important element of the larger historic designed landscape
Concerns were raised on
Vehicular access and parking – should be further considered
Domestic amenities and future development – should be controlled by condition
Archaeology – an observation and recording condition suggested
Comments were also made on
Repair and rebuilding of the walls
The design of the new house and curtilage
New tree planting

10. The Hermitage: the Outcome
The site lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and strong objections were raised by the IW AONB Unit including
that restoration of the walls would be of no benefit to the public as the site was on private land (although there is a public footpath running along the outside of two sides of the walled garden)
The application was withdrawn and the future of the former walled kitchen garden remains uncertain.