50°29′40″N 4°7′22″W / 50.49444°N 4.12278°W / 50.49444; -4.12278

The Garden House is an open garden located in Buckland Monachorum, Devon, England. The first house built in 1305 was intended to be a home for the vicars of the civil parish.

The gardens are now open to the public and are home to a number of historical features, including the ruins of the old vicarage, a 14th-century barn, and a 17th-century dovecote.

History

The first house was built in 1305 by the Abbot, upon instruction from the Bishop to build a house for the parish priest, and was later enlarged to become a three-storey building.

The Garden House was originally the early 19th century home of the vicars of Buckland Monachorum. The garden was bought by Lionel Fortescue, a former head of languages and master at Eton College, and his wife Katherine Fortescue in the 1940s following World War II. They began a process of restoration and expansion over the course of 40 years and created a series of linked gardens.[1][2]

The remains of this building are a tower with spiral staircase and a thatched barn, formerly the kitchen, are now ruins on the lower terrace in the walled garden. A tearoom has also been built on the ground floor.[3]

Grounds

The Garden House covers 10 acres[4] of land and is divided into themed areas. There are five terraces in the walled garden that began the garden. They include formally planted areas, including a tennis court, camellia walk and a lower terrace of folial borders.[5]

The Walled Garden is a 2-acre plot set around the remnants of a 16th-century vicarage. It features terraced layout and a tower offering views of the landscape.[6]

The Jubilee Arboretum, which contains over a hundred specimen trees as well as a man made lake, was officially opened by HRH The Countess of Wessex in 2013.[7]

  • Doors into the walled garden
    Doors into the walled garden
  • View onto path from the dovecote
    View onto path from the dovecote
  • The Jubilee Arboretum, stream flowing from the lake
    The Jubilee Arboretum, stream flowing from the lake
  • Path through the lime tree walk
    Path through the lime tree walk
  • Path onto the magic stone circle
    Path onto the magic stone circle

References

  1. ^ "Garden House, Buckland Monachorum". Britain Express. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  2. ^ Gardens (en), Parks and (13 December 2017). "The Garden House - Tavistock". Parks & Gardens. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  3. ^ Admin, Sisley (1 December 2012). "English Gardens: The Garden House, Devon". Sisley Garden Tours. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Spring time! Lovely park and garden walks with pitstops - Devon | Muddy Stilettos". Spring time! Lovely park and garden walks with pitstops - Devon | Muddy Stilettos. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  5. ^ Leaves, Weeds Roots (30 April 2023). "The Lion's Pride: The Garden House". Weeds Roots & Leaves. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  6. ^ "The Garden House, Devon, map and places to stay - Great British Gardens". www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Garden". The Garden House. Retrieved 1 September 2023.