The Garden
The garden is seen by the locals as a real hidden gem, a source of pride and a community space.
Wildlife and bee-friendly, the garden is open to the public and is free to enter. It offers a safe place for all visitors to relax or explore. Our small team of gardening volunteers works hard to maintain it so everyone can enjoy its beauty.
When the weather is fine, the garden is often used as a venue for family activities, picnics, school visits and seasonal events.
Visitors can always enjoy a welcome cup of tea and slice of cake in the Garden Tea Room. If you’re lucky, you can sample seasonal fruit and vegetables or buy plants.
Look out for a tactile art piece made from local pots on one of the garden walls.
We also have a QR code Meditation trail.
A brief history of the garden
The garden is 100 metres long and extends from the back door of the historic house to the Mill Stream. It is part of a medieval burgage plot, which was created by town planners in the 1200s.
In 1687, the gentleman of the house, John Bowdidge, might have relaxed or entertained guests here. During the 1700s, the garden also included an orchard. By the 1900s, part of the garden was a working space for the Coles family and the whitesmith’s forge was used to repair pots and pans as part of the ironmonger’s business.
The present layout of flowerbeds and lawns was developed largely by Blanche Coles and her daughter, Hilda. Today, you can find many traditional fruit trees as well as quinces, a medlar, a walnut tree and a black mulberry.