Goldsborough Hall Gardens - 1928 and Today

6 Aug

The Goldsborough Hall Gardens first opened by Princess Mary for the NGS mark its 20th opening

Time has a remarkable way of shaping a garden.

In 1928 HRH Princess Mary welcomed visitors to the garden at Goldsborough Hall for the National Garden Scheme. Almost a century later, we’re looking back at those same views and discovering how much has changed… and what remains beautifully familiar.

Black and white photograph of Goldsborough Hall, North Yorkshire — *Goldsborough Hall and its garden from the 1920s*

Colour image of Goldsborough Hall, North Yorkshire taken from the south side showing the afternoon tea terrace and lavender and rose border — *The Hall today with its afternoon tea terrace*

Look through these photographs to journey from Princess Mary’s garden to the present day. Some scenes are almost unrecognisable while others stood the test of time, quietly connecting generations of gardeners and visitors.

Black and white photograph of Goldsborough Hall, North Yorkshire from the 1920s — *In Princess Mary’s day the box topiary was tiny*

Colour photograph of the south side of Goldsborough Hall, near Harrogate — *Today there is a 1960s conservatory on the south side*

These remarkable comparisons are just a small glimpse from past to present day as we celebrate 20 years of the gardens being open for the NGS. Three years under the Princess and 17 years since Mark and Clare Oglesby reopened the gardens to the public after decades of being hidden from view.

Black and white image of Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, entrance in the 1920s — *The entrance to Goldsborough Hall in the 1920s*

Front entrance of Goldsborough Hall, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire — *The entrance today looks just the same as in the 1920s*

If you love history, gardens or simply seeing the passage of time through old photographs, we hope you’ll enjoy discovering the story behind each image.

Black and white image of Goldsborough Hall from the 1920s — *A rather dark and brooding shot of the Hall’s east side*

East side of Goldsborough Hall showing the front entrance steps — *Today the Hall looks a little more welcoming!*

Black and white image of the borders of Princess Mary's garden at Goldsborough Hall taken in the 1920s — *View down the main borders in Princess Mary’s day - the lime trees have only just been planted in the distance*

View down the main borders at Goldsborough Hall, a stately home in North Yorkshire — *Today’s view down the main borders, with fully mature trees in the Lime Tree Walk*

Black and white image of Goldsborough Hall, North Yorkshire with grass and plants in the foreground — *South side view of the Hall with planting from the 1920s*

View of Goldsborough Hall, a stately home near Harrogate, with a rose garden lined with lavender in the foreground — *Today’s view has a lavender-lined rose garden*

On Sunday 26th July 2026, Clare and Mark Oglesby were awarded a certificate by Assistant Yorkshire County Organiser Jo Gaunt to celebrate 20 years of NGS garden openings for Goldsborough Hall. On the day there was an exhibition ‘1928-2026 - A Garden Reopened’ explaining the history of the Goldsborough garden from Princess Mary’s era to today.

Mark and Clare Oglesby of Goldsborough Hall being awarded a certificate and trowel to celebrate 20 years of NGS garden openings — *Mark and Clare Oglesby with Jo Gaunt of the NGS. Image by Fintan Healy*

Image shows display board exhibition showing the history of the Goldsborough Hall gardens — *Part of the exhibition ‘1928-2026 - A Garden Re-opened’*

How to see the Goldsborough Hall gardens?

The gardens are open daily (unless there is a function) and tickets can be booked online here

Joel Graham

Goldsborough Hall Gardens - 1928 and Today

The Goldsborough Hall Gardens first opened by Princess Mary for the NGS mark its 20th opening

How to see the Goldsborough Hall gardens?

1928-2026: A Garden Re-opened - From Princess Mary to Today