The Programme
The programme for each tour is slightly different, but we start with drinks on the lawn at Nurscombe before dinner in one of the
ancient barns - a chance for everyone to meet and an introduction to the next few days.
The following are nearly always included:
Munstead Wood and The Quadrangle
We will visit the garden created by Gertrude Jekyll in the course of nearly fifty years and the house she commissioned the young Edwin Lutyens to build for her, Munstead Wood.
She lived here for 35 years, supplying plants from her nursery to clients all over the country.
Lady Clark will give us a guided tour of the house and garden.
We will have coffee in the Thunder House before returning to visit Miss Jekyll's seldom-seen former working gardens at the Quadrangle, now being restored.
Nearby is the church of St John the Baptist, where Miss Jekyll, her brother Sir Herbert and his wife Agnes are buried in a family grave, designed by Lutyens who also designed the chancel screen and the memorial cross in the graveyard.
Millmead
This gem of a house, designed by Edwin Lutyens, was commissioned by Gertrude Jekyll in 1904.
Here Miss Jekyll created one of her most imaginative town gardens, using steps, terraces, stone walls, and garden buildings.
Although some changes have been made, the layout is much as it was in her day, and some of her original plants survive.
The owners will share their knowledge of the house and garden with us
Vann
This 4 1/2 acre garden illustrates Gertrude Jekyll's more relaxed and naturalistic planting.
The formal water rill merges with the stream which meanders through the garden between colour coordinated banks and woodland planting.
Mary Caroe, the present owner, will be on hand to tell us about the development of the garden
The Manor House, Upton Grey
Designed by Miss Jekyll for Charles Holmes in 1908, the gardens at The Manor House have been painstakingly restored to their former glory by Rosamund Wallinger, who will give us a guided tour.
It is said to be the most authentic Jekyll garden in existence - a living museum of Jekyll design.
Goddards
Now home of the LutyensTrust. Edwin Lutyens built Goddards in 1900 as a holiday home for 'deserving ladies'.
In 1910 he extended the house and turned it into a family home. His work included a west-facing courtyard, planted by Gertrude Jekyll.
We will be given a short guided tour of part of the house.
Munstead Grange
This delightful Arts and Crafts house was designed and built by E W Mountford (architect of the Old Bailey), and his neighbour Miss Jekyll drew up plans for the garden.
The sunken garden and some of the original planting still exists. Other areas have changed when the garden was divided.
TO KEEP YOU GUESSING ...
we will also be visiting a
very private garden rarely open to the public