We admired the variety of trees in the park and noted the old Holm oaks planted some 200 years ago. From a local historian, we heard how the original garden was designed with a waveform terrace, incorporating the shape of a seahorse and a peacock, something of a departure from conventional architectural and landscaping of the time. The designer was Samuel Pepys Cockerell (1753–1827), great-great nephew of the diarist Samuel Pepys. He also designed Sezincote House, Gloucestershire, whose features were inspiration for Brighton Pavilion. The seahorse design celebrated the myth that drowned sailors' souls were guided back to shore or salvation by seahorses. Cockerell's employer was Mr Forsyth, the wealthy new owner of Pierremont, whose fortunes were linked to that of the British East India Company. The peacock was one of the symbols of this company. A most interesting story.
