The research into the history of the gardens turned up an old photograph showing a lean-to greenhouse outside the walled garden surrounded by a Victorian Flower Garden. The greenhouse had disappeared but a faithful replica was constructed on the same spot. This now contains hothouse plants including a 300-year-old Grass Tree or Blackboy.

Next to the greenhouse, an intact rock garden was found during the clearance of a thick copse of nettles and scrub. This has been restored and replanted. Also there is a recapped medieval well in this area.

A large double herbaceous border on the south side of the castle has been replanted with herbaceous perennials. Assumpta Broomfield advised on the colour combinations. Mauve and blue will be a recurring theme along the 50-yard length of the border.

The site of the herbaceous border

Far from his original plan to simply "tidy up the garden", Cyril O'Brien has returned the gardens to the condition they would have been in more than 150 years ago so that they may flourish once again.