Since the Boyles came in 1976, the garden has been developed from the outline of the Edwardian garden designed and laid out when the house was built. There are fine mature trees and a feeling of space and freedom in the open areas of lawn. There is contrasting formality in the more structured areas, which have been added to and changed considerably. The first changes to the structure of the old garden in the early 1980`s were the building of a stone terrace on the south side of the house with wide steps down to the lawn, followed by another stepped brick terrace on the other side of the house with a central iron-arched dais and seat. Also new brick walls were built to protect the garden from the north. Further borders were created between new copper beech hedges at the northwest end of the garden, and a new orchard was planted. The next major change in 1995 was the linking of those two first terraces: an Italianate parterre designed by Simon Dorrell was built at the west end of the house, and a brick-pillared paved vine and clematis walk completed the connection. The house was then set off further by the planting in 1997 of a malus avenue framed with further beech hedges, which forms a view to the west from the house. The major addition is a Golden Jubilee octagonal brick folly tower with a fine roof and weathervane. This has extensive views both to the hills of the Brecon Beacons National Park and also to all corners of the garden. The tower was built by James Arbuthnott, whose garden at Stone is known as the San Gimignano of Worcestershire. [See Links] A semi-circular summerhouse was built in 2004 in the northwest corner of the garden. This has oak pillars and a terra cotta tiled roof. During the next year the potager, developed in the 1980`s in the old kitchen garden, was completely remodelled with brick terraces and gravel paths. Then, inspired by Helen Dillon’s garden in Dublin, a new canal was created with waterfalls down the middle of the garden. As a final touch, the top path of the potager had new brick wall extensions added in 2006, with matching brick arches at each end. This very varied and special garden has featured on TV and has been written up in the Field, Country Life, The English Garden, Saga Magazine, and most recently in Country Homes in June 2006. From 2005 the garden has been added by the RHS to its list of recommended gardens to visit. Opening Times |
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