The Curiosity Garden

The Curiosity Garden explores William Constable’s remarkable collection of dried plants, known as his “dry garden”, and the story of the Herbarium at Burton Constable Hall. This extraordinary collection reveals how closely the house is connected to its landscape, and how curiosity and collecting helped shape the estate we see today.

Bringing together local and exotic specimens, the Herbarium reflects a culture of collaboration that crossed social class and gender boundaries in the eighteenth century. As additions to the collection slowed, attention turned to wider changes in the parkland, linking the Herbarium to the evolving design of the estate.

The exhibition focuses on the Herbarium’s creation between the 1740s and 1760s and on William Constable’s role after inheriting the estate in 1747. It goes on to show how William Constable shaped the wider parkland following his inheritance, leading into the major landscape changes carried out by Capability Brown in the 1770s.

Outside London, the Herbarium at Burton Constable is the largest and most complete surviving set of eighteenth century volumes in Britain. For the first time, it will be displayed in full, offering a rare opportunity to experience this unique record of botanical curiosity.

Visitors will encounter the exhibition across the Staircase Hall, Blue Room and Chippendale Room.

As part of the project, the Herbarium has been fully digitised and will be available to explore on our website.

Visitor Information:

Location: Burton Constable Hall

Opens: Saturday 28^th March 2026

Timings: On display during Hall opening hours. The Hall opens at 11:00am

Admission: Included with Hall admission ticket