The Victorian Walled Garden, first built in 1817, was restored and opened to the public in 1997. It is the only totally period-correct Victorian walled garden in Britain. Everything grown in the garden dates from 1901 or earlier. The gardeners use nineteenth century techniques wherever possible.
Glasshouses line the one acre garden on its warmest, south-facing wall. The remainder is divided into four large vegetable plots by broad gravel paths. Victorian varieties of vegetables are grown throughout the season.
Double herbaceous borders line the central pathway. It is also spanned by wrought iron hoops supporting roses, clematis and honeysuckle span the pathway. Trained apples and pears grow on the hoops over the main crossing path, and also on the garden walls.
The Peach Case is home to fan-trained peaches and nectarines. It also houses our collection of Victorian and scented leaf pelargoniums. In the Vinery, Victorian varieties of grapes grow on a single rod system, and on the benches there is a good collection of Victorian and species fuchsias. Tender vegetables, like tomatoes and aubergines, grow in the beds and on the rear wall are passionflowers and the beautiful Clematis florida 'Alba'. Outside the Vinery in the summer, there is a superb sub-tropical bedding display, with cannas, palms, dahlias and castor oil plants, among many other species.
In the Fern House, there are displays of tender ferns and orchids. The Display House is home to exotic ornamentals from all over the world, many of them rare.
The 'backsheds', the working part of the garden, are also open to the public. They include the potting shed, fruit store, bothy and head gardener's office.
The Walled Garden is open daily and is accessible to all visitors.
- 10.30am-5pm in summer (last admission 4.30pm)
- 10.30am-4pm in winter (last admission 3.30pm)
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