When you have the time and inclination to post some closer pics, people on here will be able to tell you what you have, how best to prune them, remove things etc. But if (maybe after trying some selective removal and pruning) you feel better taking out everything and starting from a blank canvas, then that's what you should do.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
It's sometimes difficult to get used to the fact that it's your garden now, especially when you can tell that the previous owner gained a lot of pleasure from it. Gardeners tend to appreciate the work that was put in by a previous owner, even if it isn't to their taste.
The fact that you aren't comfortable sitting out in it, for whatever reason, makes me think that you should "bite the bullet" and get rid of anything that you aren't happy with. There maybe a couple of things that you like the look of and might like to keep, if so post a photo and someone on here is almost certainly able to identity what it is. Then you can decide.
Remember, it's now your garden, you should be enjoying it and putting your own stamp on it. That's what it's all about
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Gardeners tend to appreciate the work that was put in by a previous owner, even if it isn't to their taste.
The fact that you aren't comfortable sitting out in it, for whatever reason, makes me think that you should "bite the bullet" and get rid of anything that you aren't happy with. There maybe a couple of things that you like the look of and might like to keep, if so post a photo and someone on here is almost certainly able to identity what it is. Then you can decide.
Remember, it's now your garden, you should be enjoying it and putting your own stamp on it. That's what it's all about