Yorkshire's garden of Eden
A conversation with Rebecca Tappin, creative director at Middleton Lodge
Back in summer, I had the pleasure of having Rebecca’s company as we took a morning stroll around the beautiful walled gardens of Middleton Lodge, the XVIII century estate in North Yorkshire she and her husband brought back to life and opened to the public. Now a gemm of Yorkshire hospitality, the estate offers beautiful and varied types of accommodation, an impressive landscaped walled garden, two restaurants and a recently opened Forest Spa. It is truly one of those places that feels like a slice of heaven on earth. We chatted about her background as an architect, life on the estate and the memories (and herbs) she holds dear.
Q: You have done such a masterful job with this place, it clearly shows an expert hand. Can you tell me a little more about your professional background?
I studied History at university before I went to the Bartlett to study architecture. I always think of archaeology as the other side of the coin of architecture - uncovering how people live from what they’ve left behind vs. intentionally creating something for the way people live now. Plus, I absolutely love architecture with a bit of a story, and with the layers of history still visible, so I'm always trying to keep that. Working with old buildings feels like a responsibility - I always want to keep all the stories and expose the beauty and character of things that have been loved and worn in a bit.
I worked for design-based architecture practice Michael Boyd in Notting Hill for seven years before moving up to Middleton Lodge over 10 years ago. The practice was small and incredibly creative, so I was able to hit the ground running working on the design and flow of buildings from the outset. It was brilliant fun. We did a lot of high-end residential projects, as well as interesting bars, restaurants, and hotels from London to the Cotswolds to New York. The perfect background to setting up a hotel as it turns out! I was working closely with a client on a sprawling country house in the Cotswolds when we met, which had a lot of parallels, and I also spent a lot of time working on listed Georgian townhouses in West London.
One of the first things I did here was to pull together a concept which is something I look at now and it still feels right, and that is always the foundation of any project I do here.
Q: What does a typical day on the estate look like to you?
Every day is completely different, and might include developing concepts mood boards, finishing plans or elevations, snagging, sketching out details for the joiners; or creating adverts, tweaking menu designs, photographing new incredible dishes and cocktails. The estate is an incredibly inspiring place to be, and I try to get outside and into the gardens as much as possible. Plus I am often to be found in one or other of the restaurants (and occasionally the spa) just making sure everything is perfect!Â
Q: What is your favourite part of the estate? Any areas that hold particular memories for you?
The whole estate has always had a special feel to it, even before we started work on it - my favourite bit usually seems to be the last thing I did! From the beautiful facade of the main house and its vast sweeping staircase and incredible views (we recently removed the layers of modern white gloss paint to reveal the beautiful stone steps underneath); to the rustic stone Dairy and Farmhouse which we renovated in 2017; I love the shepherd’s huts in the orchard, and the dog house - we stayed before it opened and I didn’t want to leave! Bringing the outside in is always a key element of the design process whether it’s the views, the colour schemes used or dried pressed flowers on the walls.
The Walled Garden is a really special place. I designed the Fig House for our own wedding, with its arched doors and Fig trees up to the ceiling, it feels like it’s been there forever, but I see it as really a space from which you can enjoy the garden. The idea is that you walk in from the estate roadside through some fairly simple lean-to stone buildings looking out over Yorkshire stone walls and sheep fields, through an old stone arch in the middle of the (very rustic!) garden wall, and out into this magical space filled with light, fig trees, and views in all directions of the garden.
The garden itself was designed by landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, whom I’d worked with previously. It is filled with absolutely exquisite and unusual plants, flowers, and mature trees, spaces to sit and places to meander, and yet somehow has also lost none of the romantic secret garden style magic it had when we first pulled back swathes of ivy to open the old wooden door, and waded through eye level nettles and thistles and overgrown fruit trees to an old broken down glasshouse. Tom’s design has so many beautiful elements to it, and every time I go in I find something new. We also have an incredible gardening team. It is probably one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever been in! It also produces some incredible fruit and vegetables which end up in the various restaurants onsite, so you’ll often see the chefs in there too.
The last project we did was the Forest Spa, which just opened in June 2023. I had always wanted to create something a bit different for a spa, so I went right back to basics. When you properly relax, you slow right down, and you notice everything. I was inspired by a book called Undesigning the Bath by Leonard Koren, who talks about simplifying bathing and getting back to nature; and of Forest Bathing (mindful walking in the forest, really experiencing your surroundings). I wanted to bring in that really earthy, primal feeling of getting back to nature, getting in tune with the seasons, cycles (and weather!).
I absolutely love it there when it rains - you can be safely cosied up in one of the treatment huts with rain pouring outside, or sit in the hot tub or by the fire watching the rain drops making ripples across the pool. Everything has come together from the products (our talented therapists work with organic Voya seaweed and Aromatherapy Associates products) and the chefs have created some delicious nourishing dishes for the Pool House while you’re there, bringing in seasonal produce from the estate.
Q: You and I share a love for reclaimed furniture. What are your go-to places to shop for antiques?
I always have half an eye out for interesting pieces, and can spend hours trawling for treasures! Over the years I have found some wonderful pieces at the Newark Antiques Fair in Lincolnshire, Vinterior, and Ebay, and we have Tennants Auction House just up the road from here in Leyburn.
Q: What are your future plans for the estate? Any new project on the horizon?
This year Forge, our second restaurant on the estate reopened (in February 2023) and the Forest Spa opened in June so it has been busy. We are eventually planning to extend the Spa further, but for once we’re pausing on the new projects, so I’m hoping to update some of the rooms at Coach House. I don’t think it will ever be finished, the beauty of this place is that we’re always looking for ways to make it even better!Â
Q: Is there any particular herb in the garden that you love, or that you use in your cooking?
My favourite plant in the whole garden is my Lemon Verbena, it is to be protected at all costs. I inherited it from my great aunt who used to pop a leaf in whenever she sent us a letter (she was also known to post us violet plants!). I have it next to my front door, and often think of her when I pass it and pop a scented leaf into my pocket! The gardeners have planted a whole load of Lemon Verbena plants in the polytunnels too, so we have it in desserts, cocktails and teas at the Coach House and Forge.
I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Rebecca as much as I did. You can follow her on her Instagram account @atelierbe_ or on @middletonlodge. Next week, as a special treat, I’ll be sharing for the first time a guest chef’s recipe: a dessert created by Ross Forder (head chef at The Coach House of Middleton Lodge) featuring Rebecca’s favourite herb.
See you then!Â
The estate is absolutely exquisite! 🌿 desperate to visit. And that food! My goodness 🤤
Thank you Martina for this fascinating interview and a lovely virtual tour around Middleton Lodge - I definitely must visit!