CRAFTSMEN who played a crucial part in transforming a rundown 18th century walled garden in North Yorkshire have returned to the scene of one of their greatest triumphs.

Staff from the Alne-based York Handmade Brick Company helped to turn four-and-a-half acres into a classic complex of contemporary gardens in the village of Scampston, near Malton.

Sir Charles and Lady Legard, owners of Scampston Hall, created the walled garden with the help of the expertise of Dutch international garden designer Piet Oudolf and York Handmade, two centuries after the legendary Capability Brown designed the park.

The garden has been divided into a series of spaces, each with a character of its own, and framed by the original wall, while complemented by a new restaurant.

Bricks from York Handmade were used on the entrance to the walled garden and restaurant.

This week, 12 of the staff at York Handmade will be lunching at the new restaurant, the Star at Scampston - sister of the Star at Harome, near Helmsley.

David Armitage, chairman and managing director of York Handmade, said: "This is a fitting way to say thank you to our staff who worked so hard on this wonderful project. It is a celebration as well, as we have been shortlisted in two categories in the prestigious Brick Development Association's annual awards for our work at Scampston."

As part of the tendering process, Lady Legard asked 17 brick companies to submit their bricks, before subjecting them to a "weathering test" to see which best suited the rigours of the Yorkshire weather.

It was a blind test, with the bricks numbered rather than named.

York Handmade offered its acclaimed sand-moulded, hand-made Thirkleby Blend brick for the project, which Lady Legard decided was ideal for the ailing wall with its blue, brown and red colouring and rugged texture.

The new restaurant has also been constructed with York Handmade's Thirkleby Blend, creating an elegant, rustic chic ambience.

Altogether 40,000 bricks and 30,000 pavers were used on the project, which has become a popular new tourist attraction in North Yorkshire.

Lady Legard said: "The role played by the York Handmade Brick Company in the restoration of the Scampston Walled Garden and the building of the new restaurant has been extremely important. The standard of their work has been exceptional and the overall effect is a seamless blend of old and new."

Updated: 09:26 Thursday, September 16, 2004