On 19th June Richard, Elinor and I visited Wyken Hall Gardens in Suffolk. This visit was to celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary of the day before. We never buy each other gifts on our anniversary unless there is something we both would like to have for the house or the garden, for example. We usually plan an outing to a place we’d like to see or we go out for a meal. This year we decided on a trip to Wyken Hall Gardens.
Wyken Hall is an Elizabethan manor house owned by Sir Kenneth and Lady Carla Carlisle. The house itself isn’t open to the public but the 4 acre gardens are. The house dates from 1570 with additions being made to it in 1630 and 1680 and then major works were carried out in 1920.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says it is one of the best modern private gardens in the country.
Lord Carlisle began work on the garden in the late 70’s and created the Rose Garden, the Winter Garden and the other garden rooms near the house. More work was done after his marriage in 1986.
New gardens are continually being created.
When Lord Carlisle began work on the garden it already had a structure of flint walls and many fine old trees. Hornbeam and yew hedges divide the garden into its different rooms. There is a copper-beech maze and a nuttery; a herb garden, a knot garden and an ‘edible’ garden; wildflower meadows and a traditional English kitchen garden. Many of the old-style gardens complement the Elizabethan house.
As well as the garden, the Carlisles own Wyken Wood, which is ancient woodland, a large modern farm and a 7 acre vineyard. A large medieval barn has been converted into a country store (which sells exclusive goods) a restaurant and café. As well as different wines they also produce ale from their own barley.
A slideshow of photos of some of the lovely plants and flowers we saw.
A slideshow of the plants in the Red Hot Border.
We had a very enjoyable afternoon at a most beautiful and immaculate garden.
Thanks for visiting!
tootlepedal said:
That is my kind of garden. Thank you for showing us round.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you!
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Jill Weatherholt said:
What a beautiful place to celebrate your anniversary. Your photos are fabulous, Clare. Oh…I’d love to be sitting in one of those Adirondack chairs, overlooking the beautiful pond. Happy Anniversary!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jill! My daughter found those chairs really comfortable and only moved from them because she got cold!
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dobetteralways said:
It looks so lovely there!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! It was a great afternoon out.
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Lavinia Ross said:
What a great anniversary idea! It looks like a beautiful place. I like the begging chicken. I would have given her my scone too. 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
It was a very cute little hen and knew exactly how to get what she wanted!
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Cynthia Reyes said:
I love this post, Clare. What an interesting garden. Now, does that painting stay in that ‘bus stop’ year-round?
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Cynthia! By the look of the painting I would say that it does stay out in all weathers! Apparently, this seat is a favourite place with the peacocks.
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chiaradiack said:
What a lovely place, all those little hidden places. I love the colour of the house too! Happy anniversary!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Chiara! I loved all the different gardens with sheltered corners, arbours and archways. There were lots of seats too though when we went it was quite a cool breezy day and we didn’t want to sit for long! The house colour is gorgeous! The guide leaflet we were given says that the limewash used is what ‘Suffolk Pink’ looked like in Elizabethan times.
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Gallivanta said:
Glad you had such a lovely anniversary outing.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Ann, we did!
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quietsolopursuits said:
What a great place to spend an anniversary, it’s so beautiful there! I can’t imagine how much work it was to create all the gardens, let alone maintain them.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jerry! The work involved to keep it looking so good must be phenomenal! I believe they have ‘staff’ to help them. The weather was cool and breezy when we visited and we had had some rain in the morning but it stayed dry but cloudy for most of the time we were there. That made it much easier to take photographs!
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Draws Shoots and Leaves said:
A good idea for a day out! Looks really great
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clarepooley33 said:
It was a lovely place to visit – so much to see!
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lundygirl said:
you are a tease – no lake district photos 🙂 I could manage to live in that house!
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clarepooley33 said:
I like to keep you guessing! I had started this post before we went away and wanted to get it out of the way. I have another couple of half-written posts that I may intersperse in-between the Lakes ones. That house was wonderful! Fortunately they can afford to have gardeners and house-keepers to do the work involved in keeping it looking so good.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
I love seeing gardens like this but I’m always happy that I’m not the gardener who has to do all the trimming.
You can often get a lot of good ideas for your own garden by visiting places like this and I hope it was inspiring.
I think my favorite photo was of the odd door on the corner of the house. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that.
Happy anniversary!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Allen. That door intrigued me too! I doubt if it was there when the house was built but I haven’t been able to find out when it was added. There was so much to see – lots of different types of garden, different layouts and different plant combinations. That is the upside of having garden rooms. The downside is, as you say, all the hedge maintenance. There must have been miles of it! I think they can afford a large team of gardeners! Other privately owned large gardens we visit aren’t nearly so well looked after, mainly because of lack of money to pay for enough help. I could see the influence Lady Carlisle has had on the planting schemes. I recognised so many plants native to the US and I have you and Jerry to thank for that!
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colorpencil2014 said:
Lovely photos of a lovely trip!! An congrats on the wedding anniversary! xo Johanna
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Johanna! xx
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Aquileana said:
Wyken Hall Gardens are stunning and I love the way that there are some personal stories involved with them!…. Thanks for sharing this feature with us…As always, a joy to read. 🔅🔆 Great photographs, as well, dear Clare!. All my best wishes. Aquileana ⭐
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you my dear Aquileana! You are kind and generous as always! Best wishes, Clare 🙂 xx
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Ste J said:
The Bellini bus stop, I love that, There is something about a garden that makes one happy, the variety of colours and the receptacles for insects makes for a pleasing sight and a place with which to let thoughts wander and greenery, it seems the world is getting increasingly concreted over these days so I always like to see green.
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clarepooley33 said:
You are so right Ste! Gardens are so relaxing and green is such a calm colour. Even when I haven’t done enough gardening in my own place, once I start to tidy it I feel much better.
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Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
What a BEAUTIFUL place, Clare. I believe I could sit for hours in those chairs overlooking the pond. 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Elizabeth! It was truly a lovely place and if it had been a warmer day we would have sat for much longer contemplating the pond! 🙂
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