Hampton Court Castle and Gardens
With friends over to stay and the possibility of a dry, even sunny, day on Bank Holiday Monday we decided on a trip to Hampton Court. Not, however, Hampton Court of King Henry VIII and William and Mary fame but rather Hampton Court Castle in Herefordshire. It isn’t on the same scale of grandeur as the royal place but I think it is a real, hidden gem.
Wisteria tunnel
Situated in beautiful countryside between Leominster and Hereford the 15th century castle is set in 1000 acres of parkland with 15 acres of stunning gardens. Elements of the garden go back to the Victorian period when the house was owned by John Arkwright, grandson of industrialist and inventor Richard Arkwright but much of the garden was created by Hampton Court’s American owner in the 1990s. The original Victorian brick walls enclose an organic kitchen garden, which supplies the restaurant, and several ‘garden rooms’ with herbaceous borders, a rose garden and a Dutch garden. One of the larger sections is divided by small canals with island pavilions. With high yew hedges, pleached trees and paths leading off in different directions there is a mysterious feel which reminded me of The Secret Garden children’s book. One of the most stunning features has to be the 150 year old wisteria tunnel. Its old, gnarled trunks and branches form a covered walkway dripping with wisteria blooms, their scent hanging in the air.
Secret entrance
I loved the rose garden. So often rose gardens can be disappointing affairs, with a few straggly specimens, struggling to survive and devoid of any other planting, as if the name rose garden had been taken rather too literally. Here, at Hampton Court, the roses were full of vigour, blooming profusely and they had also been planted with a variety of other herbaceous plants. There were alliums, some with flowers as big as a head, geraniums, honesty, lavender and centaurea, all in soft pastel colours. But best of all, the roses had all been chosen for their scent. There can’t be many things more disappointing, in the gardening world, than a rose without a scent.
Herbaceous borders
Some of the herbaceous borders were planted with a purple and yellow theme; tall yellow and purple bearded irises, yellow aquilegias, alliums and yellow roses smelling of citrus.
The kitchen garden is functional and attractive. Espaliered fruit trees line the paths and act as dividers. A woven birch tunnel will provide support for ornamental gourds as the summer progresses and woven willow has been used to create raised planters.
The Kitchen Garden
Of course, not everyone is quite as enamoured by gardens as I am but the younger members of the group were kept entertained by the yew tree maze and the gothic central tower which affords views out across the garden and parkland. There was also the underground tunnel which led to a sunken garden via a small waterfall. Here there were gunnera, heucheras and other shady, woodland and moisture loving plants surrounding a pond.
After lunch in the Joseph Paxton designed orangery we walked through the parkland and down to the River Lugg. A path had been created by the riverbank through the cow parsley and wildflowers. It was teeming with bugs and beasties, beautiful demoiselles and damelsflies flitting about and metallic coloured beetles.
Demoiselle
Bought several years ago, after the death of the American owner there were worries that these beautiful gardens would be closed to the public but I was heartened to see that quite the opposite seems to be the case. In fact, the gardens are looking better than on any of our previous visits, with a gardener on hand to show visitors around and a programme of events throughout the season. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention the small plant nursery, which has a good selection of plants that you can see throughout the gardens. A small purchase was made of a Chrysanthemum with unusual ball-shaped flowers that is great for cut flowers . . . well it would have been rude not to!
Herefordshire itself is a beautiful place to visit. It has beautiful scenery, great food producers, offers some excellent walking and canoeing and because it is a little off the beaten track you are rarely troubled by traffic jams and too many people. The icing on the cake for a garden lovers like myself is a place like Hampton Court.
For further information visit Hampton Court Castle and Gardens and Herefordshire Visitor Information.
This is so beautiful!! I must reblog!!
Deborah
Reblogged this on Romancing the Bee and commented:
Beautiful English gardens!
Deborah, thank you. I’m glad you liked it. It is a gorgeous place and well worth a visit.
Does look like a gem of a garden indeed. Love the Wisteria walk and the wavy hedges, and particularly like the look of the beautifully decorative kitchen Garden. Veg in a garden always a plus in my book. Definitely on my visit list, next time I head westwards. Great post!
Thanks, Naomi. It is worth a visit. It is such a well designed space where they have managed to incorporate so many different features. We’re going to go back in September to see the kitchen garden in its prime.
Jealous!
That sounds like a great day was had by all. Love the undulating hedge behind the herbacious border. Thanks for posting, putting this on my ‘bucket list”!
Sandra, It is such a lovely place. Not the biggest of gardens but well designed with plenty to see.
Sounds like a super place to visit, must put it on the list! Love the wisteria tunnel, the perfume must have been overpowering!
Pauline, I don’t normally like the smell of wisteria. We were somewhere, years ago, and the smell made us both feel sick but this time we loved it. It wasn’t really potent, just a lovely sweet scent in the air.
I’d never heard of this Hampton Court, thank you for sharing your viist, it looks beautiful, especially the wisteria tunnel, how fabulous! Christina
Christina, It’s a bit of a hidden gem, tucked away in Herefordshire. It must be a bit frustrating that it shares its name with a more famous place. We had never seen the wisteria tunnel in its full glory so that was a real treat.
I am tempted. I fall for wisteria every time and the hedges are fabulous. I can’t spare the time to go garden visiting, my own garden is calling to me every day but still …
Elizabeth, My own garden pretty much looks after itself at the moment. It’s the allotment that needs a bit of work but it was nice to have a day away and show our guests some of the local area.
I love this garden…..that wisteria is breathtaking and your wall photo reminded me immediately of A Secret Garden…. definitely on the the list to visit
Hi Donna, It is well worth a visit. Despite our extremely changeable weather the garden were looking beautiful.
It sounds like there’s something for everyone there, and it’s always a plus when there’s something to keep younger members of the family entertained. The wisteria tunnel looks stunning.
Hi Jo, The words ‘I’m bored’ only minutes after entering a place you’ve just paid quite a bit of money to get into can strike fear into most adults. Fortunately, the maze and waterfall provided enough distractions to keep everyone happy.
Our favourite stopping point and watering hole on on our way down to the Malvern Show but sadly missed out this spring. We will just have to go later in the season. Have yet to see the wisteria in full profusion but I imagine that it’s a sight to behold. Of course you had to leave with a plant – would have not been right to have come away empty handed WW 🙂
Hi Anna, It’s the first time we’ve been there to see the wisteria tunnel in all its glory and it was stunning.