Photos shed light on Kearsney Court and Russell Gardens

A collection of over 100 historic photos of Kearsney Court has been made available to Dover District Council as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Kearsney ‘Parks for People’ project. The ‘Harding Archive’ has been named in honour of Ralph Harding. Ralph was a resident of Kearsney Court who was keenly interested in preserving and restoring Kearsney Court and Russell Gardens. Sadly he passed away in 2016. 

Permission to share the collection with the public was kindly given by Ralph’s wife, Josie Harding, and is now available to view online on the 'Harding Archive' pages at www.kearsneyparks.co.uk.

The Kearsney Parks project will see the £3m restoration of Thomas Mawson’s c.1900 design of the historic parkland at Russell Gardens. Thomas Mawson (1861-1933) was one of the most influential landscape designers of the Edwardian era.  Russell Gardens is a rare example of his work in the south east of England. Russell Gardens has been a public garden since 1951. Kearsney Court House and the gardens in the immediate vicinity of the house remain in private property and are not accessible to the public.     

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Dover District Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for parks and open spaces, said: "We are extremely grateful to Josie Harding for allowing us to share Ralph’s wonderful archive of photos of Kearsney Court.

"Ralph was an advocate for the preservation of Thomas Mawson’s vision for the parkland at Russell Gardens. He was instrumental in helping us to shape our plans for the restoration. Working with the Heritage Lottery Fund, we look forward to sharing his passion for the beauty of Russell Gardens with even more people. Ralph’s amazing collection of photos will help us bring the history of Kearsney Court to life."