The fields around Brackenhurst had been enclosed by about 1800. Of these the field known as 'Tower Wong Close' is where the present house stands. In 1827 the Reverend Thomas Coats Cane, the only son of the Reverend Robert Cane (Vicar of Southwell), bought 37 acres here. By January 1828 he had commissioned a local builder called Allenby to build a house. During the 1830s the farm buildings and the drive were added and many of the now mature trees were planted including the cedars. In 1888 the house and grounds were sold to George Saville Foljambe of Osberton. He held the estate until 1899 when it was purchased by William Norton Hicking who renamed the property Brackenhurst Hall in 1901. He also made a considerable number of improvements to the garden. Between 1899 and 1919 he created the lake, willow-pattern bridge, the Boat House, the Japanese Wilderness, the sunken garden, the Orangery, the terrace, the ha-ha, the Rose Garden, the lodge and ornamental gates, and the walled kitchen garden. He also added various pieces of imported Italian statuary around the grounds and planted two avenues of trees leading towards the Hall. The Hall remained in Hicking's ownership until his death in 1947. It was then sold to the County Council. In 1949 it was reopened as the Brackenhurst Farm Institute. In 1964 the site underwent extensive redevelopment with the construction of a new lecture hall, laboratory and separate residential blocks. Despite the modern developments to accommodate the college most of the original garden features from the turn of the century have remained intact. (2)
See M13410 for Brackenhurst Hall.

<1> Notts Historic Gardens Trust, 1995-1997, Notts Historic Parks and Gardens Files (Unpublished document). SNT4553.

<2> Biggadyke J, 1995, Brackenhurst, Southwell - Register Review Report (Unpublished document). SNT4577.