The Murtagh Labyrinth

Labyrinths have been built around the world since ancient times. Their overall design varies, but several consistent features usually exist. The “Walking Paths” are a series of “Circuits” which begin at the Labyrinth entrance and lead to the center. Often there are five, seven or nine walking path circuits. The circuits are usually delineated with stones or plants. Labyrinths are either left or right handed depending on which side you enter. The orientation of a Labyrinth can be designated by features such as the constellations, views or compass points.

A Labyrinth is not a maze, as one cannot get lost, the path always leads to the center!

This project features the construction of a Walking Labyrinth with paving stone bands in the rear yard of a private residence. The owners use the Labyrinth as a garden room, featured among many other existing theme gardens surrounding their home. Daily they walk the Labyrinth as a meditative exercise.

The property is located in rural Chester County, Pa.

To design a labyrinth I included the following Design Requirements:

• Design and build a “right handed” seven circuit Labyrinth to be constructed in the rear yard of the residence. • Determine appropriate size and placement of the Labyrinth to fit the space.
• Design should include antique bricks and cobblestones to delineate the turf walking paths. Paving stones need to be level with the grade to allow passage of lawn mowing equipment over the Labyrinth.
• Include a resting/meditative area at the center of the Labyrinth.
• Consider other existing garden rooms on the property to determine Labyrinth location and provide a walking connection to these areas.

In the rear yard an open, level space was selected for the Labyrinth construction. This area was also very close to the rear doors of the house, so daily access was quite simple. The view of the Labyrinth from the upper rooms of the house, as well as from the rear terrace, was prominent. The location was adjacent to the existing sunken gardens and the Labyrinth was centered on those gardens.

	The size of the Labyrinth was designed to fit the overall space in the lawn area. It needed to be similar in size to the adjacent sunken garden. The turf walking paths are 18” wide and the paving stone bands are 9” wide, making the overall dimension of the seven circuit Labyrinth approximately 34’ by 40’. A right-handed design was selected to allow access from the back of the house and provide a walking connection to the nearby sunken gardens.
The owners have often visited Labyrinths in England and wanted to use “old world” materials for the paving stones. We selected antique bricks and cobble stones in alternating bands to delineate the walking paths.
	The paving stones were placed on a quarry stone base, level with the grade for easy lawn mowing. A continuous hardware edging around both sides of the paving stone bands keep the stones in place as well as prohibit the turf grass from growing into the paving. A large, antique millstone was placed in the center of the Labyrinth as a focal point and a resting place.
The owners desired to keep the space open with no plantings around the Labyrinth, creating an ‘open feeling’ surrounding the space with views to the open landscape around the Labyrinth. When arriving at the center, one can sit quietly on the millstone with views of the gardens, the meadow and the outstanding architecture of the home. The Labyrinth is a very unique, new garden room at the Murtagh Residence and has become quite an attraction.! Their garden visitors, of all ages, enjoy walking (and running) through the Labyrinth. Some visitors take five minutes to complete the seven circuits, some take over an hour. Either way, the Labyrinth has provided the Murtagh family with a special place to retreat, meditate, entertain or just exercise!

Designer:

Shipley A. Allinson, APLD
W.D. Wells & Associates, Inc.
190 Woodcrest Road
West Grove, Pa. 19390

Mr. Allinson joined the W.D.Wells & Associates staff as a professional landscape designer in February 1988. He studied landscape design and plant science at the University of Delaware where he received his Bachelor of Agriculture in 1980.

Mr. Allinson has been designing beautiful gardens and outdoor living spaces throughout the tri state area of Pennsylvania, Delaware & Maryland since 1981. His garden designs are created to serve the specific needs of the client and are customized to utilize the particular assets of each unique site. He has been recognized with many awards for excellence in landscape design by the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association.

His private garden in Kennett Square has been featured on garden tours sponsored by Longwood Gardens, The Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association and Tyler Arboretum. His professional affiliations include membership in the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association where he is a Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist (PCH)

In addition; he is an Certified Member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and a Certified Nursery Professional- Landscape Design Specialist in the state of Delaware. In addition to his professional work, Mr. Allinson enjoys hiking, skiing, plant collecting and gardening. He spends much of his free time taking care of his extensive plant collections at his home garden in Kennett Square, Pa. with his wife Mary.