Please note that the price for this event now differs from that printed in the Friends’ News, apologies for any confusion caused.
The Dower House has a beautiful view of Melbourne Pool from the balustraded terrace. The garden drops steeply by paths and steps to lawn with herbaceous borders and banks of some 60 shrubs. Numerous paths lead to different areas of the garden, providing varied planting opportunities including a bog garden, glade, shrubbery, grasses, herb and vegetable garden, rose tunnel, orchard and small woodland. The garden is on two levels connected by steps and steep paths. The ticket price includes a tour of the gardens.
Melbourne Hall is a Grade II* Georgian style country house. The Grade l listed garden with its broad sweeps of lawn, avenues and unexpected vistas is one of the most treasured historical gardens in the country and is the best surviving early 18th century English garden in the manner of le Notre. It was laid out by Rt. Hon Thomas Coke, Vice Chamberlain to Queen Anne, with help from the garden landscape designers George London and Henry Wise in the formal style. It is noted for its long tunnel of Yew, its wrought iron arbour created by Robert Bakewell and its statuary by Jan van Nost, notably the Four seasons monument, a gift from Queen Anne. On arrival at Melbourne Hall, we will be given an introductory talk by the Head Gardener.