Millgate Garden is one of those places you may well walk past if you had no inkling of what lay behind the 18th facade of the Georgian townhouse. In fact I have, on previous visits to the North Yorkshire town of Richmond. Lying just metres from the central market place, a simple ‘garden open’ sign was what we were told to look out for, by the lady in the tourist information centre.
What’s behind the door?
A door at the side of the house leads into an alleyway, or snicket as they are known in these parts, where there’s an honesty box to pay your admission and pick up a guide to the garden beyond. A small area at the side of the house, shaded and damp, might otherwise go unadorned; the perfect place to stash those encumbrances of modern life, such as the wheelie bin, but here it’s packed with containers of hostas and ferns.
A ‘snicket’ full of plants
Climbers such as Parthenocissus henryana and Clematis clothe the walls, there are pots of topiarised box and shots of colour from yellow poppies appearing from cracks and crevices. From here you enter the garden proper, through an old gate in the substantial stone wall enclosing the garden.
Looking back towards Millgate House
The house, with it’s Regency extension at the back towering over the garden, may feel grand but the garden at a third of an acre is the sort of space that those of us with even the smallest of outdoor spaces can take inspiration from.
The layout of the garden with its upper and lower terraces was established in the 1930s but the planting and the feel that has been created is the work of the current owners, Austin and Tim, who moved into Millgate in 1980. They wanted to create a garden with year-round interest, structure and movement. I loved it and I’m not the only who thinks this is a gem of a garden. Some years ago they won the RHS National Garden Competition from some 3200 entries.
Visiting a smallish garden like this, developed by self-taught horticulturalists for their own private pleasure is truly inspiring. Gravel paths wend through the upper part of the garden; stone steps lead down to the lower section with paths taking you to seating areas, one of which overlooks the countryside beyond and the waterfalls of the River Swale. On our visit, with river levels high, the roar of the water flooding over the rapids could be heard from the garden.
Rosa hellenae to the left
The use of trees and shrubs to create the bones of the garden, to give it structure, was for me the most inspiring feature and something I want to learn from. The upper garden is dominated by an incredible Rosa helenae, a vigorous climber that can achieve 6-8 metres in height and it’s not the only rose at Millgate with over 40 varieties scattered throughout the borders.
Acers, hollies and yews created some lovely shady areas where geraniums and martagon lillies were thriving. Clematis climbed their way up supports and through other plants. Dotted around were containers with lollipop pruned box and hollies. Purple campanulas tumbled out onto paths and spotted leaves of pulmonaris could be seen poking through gaps, hinting at what was on show here earlier in the year.
When you’re an avid garden visitor like myself it’s individuality and personality that you start to look for in other gardens and Millgate had plenty to keep me happy. I loved these little stone features.
I have no idea what their previous purpose was but you know when you’re in the garden of real plantophiles when no opportunity is missed to find somewhere to put a plant. A quote from Isaac Watts, the 18th century hymnwriter, etched onto slate and placed above a seating area was a great touch.
There were some stunning plants but I was particularly taken by this, apparently rare, Polemonium ‘Katy Daley’. A slate label said it was from Jackson’s Wold Nursery just outside Scarborough.
Polemonium ‘Katy Daley’
And, if all this wasn’t enough, Millgate House is actually a B&B. What better place to stay than somewhere with such stunning gardens and with Helmsley Walled Garden, RHS Harlow Carr and Castle Howard all in the area and my favourite plant nursery at Eggleston Hall, this has all the ingredients for the perfect gardening holiday.
For more information about Millgate House and Garden. It’s also a RHS partner garden so entry is free for members.
wellywoman 
Another to add to my list which is getting longer and longer! From your photos it looks a lovely garden with lots of super foliage. Thanks for sharing with us.
That looks to be a real gem, both to visit and stay at! As you say all in all a great place for a perfect gardening holiday. xx
An excellent post. Thanks for featuring this lovely garden. I love the idea that it exists behind that door!
What a lovely place. I remember years ago asking for directions in York and a young lad telling me to follow the snicket. Absolutely no idea what he was talking about. I’m wondering how many more Yorkshire gardens you might have up your sleeve? D
That was it for that trip. There seems such a wealth of gardens up there, though that I have a long list of places for future visits.
I love the word ‘snicket’. There’s ‘ginnel’, as well which I think is another Yorkshire term for alleyway. In my native Durham ‘vennel’ means alleyway. I love all these local terms. A tad confusing for outsiders though!
England is so full of wondeful gardens to visit, thanks for sharing your time in the garden, as someone who lives where there are no inspiring gardens to visit I very much seeing others’ visits. Christina
Thank you, Christine. When we lived in Germany I really missed being able to visit inspiring gardens. We are spoilt for choice here in the UK. WW
Thanks for sharing this. I’m in Richmond reasonably often visiting my grandad, and I had no idea this was there! Will have to investigate.
Hi Rob, Definitely worth a visit. A real hidden gem.
It’s nice to think that there are such wonderful gardens hidden behind quiet, unassuming doors. The “snicket” is particularly good, I think I would have given up the ghost and left it to the wheelie bin.
Hi Helen, Not sure where they did put their wheelie bin and all their recycling stuff but it was a lovely way to use such an awkward space.