Derek Carr's Visits to Homes and Gardens in England 2006
I've lumped these together, because they make an interesting collection. Especially since they represent four centuries of garden design. Hidcote was designed at the beginning of the 20th century. Upton House is a classic of the 19th century, and Hanbury Hall is a garden from the late 17th, early 18th century. I also went to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens for an apple day celebration this year, and that's a 16th/ 17th century garden (see Apple day).
Hidcote Manor Gardens
Hidcote Garden photos are on a separate page - see the link to the photos here.
Lacock Abbey
Friday 9th June: I was on my way to Glastonbury for the annual gathering there (see camps) and was passing Lacock Abbey about 3. I had my NT card with me, so I went in and had a quick look round for about an hour, which I enjoyed very much.
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Upton House
Here's my (edited) diary entry:
Saturday 12 August. Mostly cloudy, but dry, cool wind. Drove to Upton House near Edgehill. We had a picnic in the van in the car park, then went in. Very fine drive up to the house. The house isn't much to look at on the outside, but sounds as though it's nice inside. We didn't go in though. Went up to the restaurant, which is a nice new building in Georgian style, then into the garden. From the house there are wonderful views and just a little terrace that can be seen. The gardens are on the SW-facing slope right down to the large pool at the bottom. They are arranged in tiers of herbaceous borders, with a rose garden and vegetable plot. There are lots of yews and cedars. A really nice garden. We sat for awhile in the 'secret garden' and then again in the rose garden at the bottom. Then we went into the rather good bog garden. We waited for a buggy at the bottom that never came, then walked up the steep path back to the top. Not quite as bad as I feared. Mom got up there well enough. We got the buggy back to the car-park though, that was helpful.
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Hanbury Hall
The brochure says of Hanbury "[It] is a typical example of an English country house built by a prosperous local family ... The William and Mary-style red brick house, completed in 1701 ... There is an 18th century orangery in the garden, and an icehouse. Reinstatement of the formal 18th century garden commenced in autumn 1993."
This is what I wrote in my diary (slightly edited) for the trip:
Saturday 9 September. It was National heritage day (so free entry to a lot of places). Decided on Hanbury Hall, near Droitwich. It was a nice drive and I found it easily. It's a lovely hall, built in 1701. The gardens have been put back to how they may have been laid out originally in a formal parterre, and organised tree and other planting. And it was beautifully cared for. We had a nice look round the gardens, and I felt as though I would have liked to walk more, but there was a lot to see. Then we went in the tea-rooms and had coffee and scones. Not too bad price-wise and good quality and home-made scones. Nice. Then we went in the hall itself, and looked round. Interesting place, with a very grand mural on the staircase. Great stuff. Mom didn't go upstairs, she was very tired. But I went up and chatted to some of the volunteers, and gag a bit at the wallpaper in the corridor! Nice house, well worth the visit. We both really enjoyed it, and were really tired. We brought a few apples back with us: Coxs and Bramleys, windfalls from the orchard.
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The next holiday page is the Camps page, click the right arrow to go to it.
This page last updated: 10 December 2011
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