Wivenhoe Park

In 1845, Wivenhoe Park was inherited by John Gurdon Rebow, the widow of Mary Rebow, the daughter of Lt General Francis Slater Rebow depicted in Constable's painting. John Gurdon Rebow rebuilt Wivenhoe House and remodelled the park. In April 1856, Prince Albert visited Colchester to inspect the new barracks and travelled out to see some of the troops on exercise in Wivenhoe Park, presumably at the invitation of John Gurdon Rebow. A report of the royal visit to Wivenhoe Park, including an engraving, was published by the London Illustrated News. Wivenhoe Park was sold to the Gooch family in 1908.

Outstanding trees still remain at Wivenhoe Park including ancient oaks and the cork oaks planted by John Constable. A tree walk detailing close to 40 trees in the parkland was created by Christopher Howard in 2013. Wivenhoe House is included on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest as a Grade II* listed building. Other listed structures in Wivenhoe Park include two Gatehouses (one to the east of the house, and the other to the north-west), the Stable Block, and the boundary wall and ha-ha which provide the domestic curtilage to the house. Each of these structures is Grade II listed. Wivenhoe Park is included on the Register of Parks and Gardens of…