Restored Walled Gardens at Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire
Foster & Pearson Peach House and Greenhouses

The Luton Hoo Estate, situated in Bedfordshire, between Luton and Harpenden, originates from before the 18th Century when the house was built for the 3rd Earl of Bute with designs by Robert Adam and landscaping by Capability Brown. The walled garden, some 5 acres, was established in the late 1760s. Many other changes followed before the house and contents were destroyed by fire in 1843. The estate, with its burnt-out house was the bought by John Shaw Leigh, a Liverpool solicitor, who rebuilt the house. Then, in 1903, after the estate had passed through the Leigh family, it was sold to Sir Julius Werner who had made his fortune from the South African diamond mines. It was in the first decade of the 20th Century that the Foster & Pearson peach house and heated greenhouses were added to support the walled garden. A very stylish conservatory by Foster & Pearson's competitor, MacKenzie & Moncur of Edinburgh, was added to the Garden in the early years of the 20th Century. The estate saw service during World War 2 when it was used as a tank testing ground for Churchill tanks that were built in nearby Luton. Later, the gardens and their buildings began to fall into disrepair before beginning a period of extensive restoration from 2001 up to 2021. Today, more then 100 volunteers keep the garden open to visitors and tours, every Wednesday, from May to October.

After the death of Nicholas Harold Phillips, a descendant of Sir Julius Wernher, the house and many acres were sold and the house was converted into a luxury hotel, which opened in 2007. It is now owned by The Arora Group. The remainder of the estate, including the Walled Garden, remains in the ownership of the Phillips family and operates as a diversified business that includes a modern farm, commercial and residential property as well as serving as one of the busiest non-studio filming locations in the country.