{"id":7034518,"date":"2026-08-09T02:25:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T02:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/secret-garden-follies-charis-white-interiors\/"},"modified":"2026-08-09T02:25:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T02:25:16","slug":"secret-garden-follies-charis-white-interiors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7034518","title":{"rendered":"Secret garden follies \u2013 Charis White Interiors"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In an unpredictable world, what better escape room to retreat to this summer than the whimsy of an off-grid garden folly? Whilst they lack (by design) the practicality of a garden office, follies offer a most welcome and decorative escape from the everyday. A beautiful garden structure with no other purpose than to delight, a folly might just be the aesthetic we need in 2026. <\/p>\n

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A potted history of the garden folly<\/h2>\n

Follies were originally inspired by 18th-century architecture discovered on European Grand Tours. Built on country house estates, they are often hidden from view from the main house and have wonderful vistas across parkland. Follies vary in size and mimic anything from classical temples and towers of the Grand Tour to exotic tents and miniature thatched cottages. Gardeners on British Victorian estates created some of my favourite versions with branches and fir cones.<\/p>\n

Escape to the garden<\/h2>\n

Quirky by design, garden follies create a perfect escape from everyday life, providing unusual places for entertaining, for shade, for fun or quite simply for the peace and quiet of getting away from it all. Thankfully, large country estates are no longer a pre-requisite. <\/p>\n

Follies in small gardens<\/h2>\n

A small garden along with some imagination is all you need to create your own garden folly. Remember to check local planning permission, as there is a maximum height restriction for garden structures. <\/p>\n

I adore a newly launched collection from Tin Tents <\/a>which are inspired by the tin folly by Sir (Bertram) Clough Williams-Ellis\u2019 Italianate village of Portmeirion, North Wales. <\/p>\n

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Tin Tents<\/a> Just don\u2019t know which design to choose!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Stay in a folly<\/h2>\n

Experience an overnight stay in an 18th-century folly such as The Pineapple Folly<\/a> built by the Scottish Earl of Dunmore in 1761. I have never been to this one but it has always struck me as such a wonderful piece of joyful architecture!<\/p>\n

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The Pineapple folly was built in 1761 by the Earl of Dunmore as a summerhouse where he could appreciate the views from his estate. At this time, pineapples were among Scotland\u2019s most exotic foods. Photo: National Trust For Scotland.<\/a> The gardens are open by National Trust for Scotland and you can stay in The Pineapple courtesy of the Landmark Trust.<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Secret garden follies<\/h2>\n

From Scotland to England and Wales, here are just a few follies that have been catching my eye\u2026<\/p>\n

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Foxgloves. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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View of the 100-metre Edwardian pergola designed by Harold Peto connected to a stone-built folly at West Dean College<\/a>. Running east-west across the North Lawn it is host to many varieties of magnolia, clematis, rose and honeysuckle. Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Natural garden gazebo or folly in the stunning gardens of Crathes Castle<\/a>, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Peony. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Thatched Gothic cottage folly at West Dean college<\/a> house and garden, West Sussex. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Garden folly with gorgeous trellis, found branch balustrade and zigzag pelmet. Lowther Castle gardens, <\/a>Lake District. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Garden folly made from found branches and fir cones in the gardens of Englefield Hall,<\/a> Berkshire. (open every Monday, \u00a35 tickets). Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Bridge made from found branches at Englefield Hall<\/a>, Berkshire. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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I love the simplicity of this garden beach hut style folly with its gently shaped pagoda style roof. To be found in the lovely gardens of Dounside House Hotel <\/a>in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Classical garden folly summerhouse in the Secret Garden at The Old Rectory, Farnborough, Oxfordshire for the National Garden Scheme.<\/a> The Old Rectory was home to poet and broadcaster John Betjeman from 1945 to 1951. This is a beautiful garden worth visiting. His good friend the artist John Piper designed a stained glass window in the church next door. Photo: Charis White <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Candleabra Primula in Ardingklas Woodland garden<\/a>, which also has a small folly dedicated to poetry. Argyll, Scotland. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Thank you<\/h2>\n

Finally, thank you so much for reading this. I hope these follies have inspired you as much as they do me. <\/p>\n

If you would like to subscribe to the blog for no cost, then please use the subscribe button at the beginning or end of a post. You will then receive an email alert, usually once a month which will mostly be on interior style (including plenty of antiques and vintage), to garden or heritage themes.<\/p>\n

Visual storytelling for\u00a0newspapers, magazines, books and brands<\/a>\u00a0has been my trade as an interior stylist and journalist. The blog offers a little more of this lifelong passion.<\/p>\n

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Charis White, interior stylist\/writer (freelance)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n