Restoring the Work of Charles Gillette

In 1964, Charles Gillette, a renowned Richmond Landscape Architect, created beautiful gardens surrounding a brick home overlooking the James River in Goochland County. Thirty years later, the gardens had fallen into disrepair and did not contain the amenities the modern owners wanted.

Following extensive research into the history of the site, Four Winds was able to locate and obtain the original plans drawn by Gillette. The research was used to renovate the gardens with the goal of re-creating the original plans as much as possible. Although some of the plants used are no longer available in the nursery trade and others were unsuitable given changes in sun exposure from now mature trees, much of Gillette's scheme became part of the renovation plans.

Other aspects of the design included the use of a retaining wall to create a large flat play area, and a new circulation scheme to link various garden rooms. At all points the scheme attempted to capture the style of the original designer.

The duties of FWLD included establishment of project goals, historical research, providing architectural consultants, and detailed design layout. All historical plans were donated to the Library of Virginia.  Currently Four Winds has directed the restoration of three Gillette gardens: two private residences and The Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond.

Historic recreation inspired this master plan.

A portion of the original plan by Charles Gillette.