If you want a really memorable day out in East Sussex, visit the gardens of the well-known Bloomsbury Group sisters, Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf - who resided at Charleston (above and below) and Monk's House - but remember that they have fairly restricted opening hours and to see them both on the same day, you need to make it a Wednesday or a Saturday.
Charleston was the one-time home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, who were part of the Bohemian circle of writers and artists, collectively known as the Bloomsbury Group. It's a charming house (above) sheltering beneath the South Downs and there are regular tours of the property for those interested in Vanessa's paintings. But it's the garden that I went for and it's a fine example of Arts and Crafts planting with a lovely walled garden, filled to bursting with densely-packed flower beds and a riot of colour.
Monk's House at nearby Rodmell, outside Lewes (below) is one of the most enchanting gardens I've seen yet this year and was the country retreat and cottage home of Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard. And like Charleston, the charm of this garden is the dense planting and vibrant colour displays - indeed every inch of ground in the main garden is packed with stunning perennials that beg you to come back and look again and again.
Just as impressive is the orchard, overlooked by a typical Sussex flint church, and underplanted with spring bulbs. But I'm told that Monk's House was not always in this glorious state - it's entirely due to the efforts of the current tenants that it has been returned to its former glory - a husband and wife team, who spend a lot of time in the garden, assisted by volunteers. Their efforts have certainly paid off and this is a garden that I'll return to time and time again!
Charleston is open Wednesday through Saturday and entry to the house is by guided tour, with tickets purchased from the shop on site; Monk's House is only open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and is a National Trust property, so entrance is free to members.
I'd *love* to see these places - and Rye itself. Thank you for your post, it's like getting a post-card of somewhere on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteThat is so pretty! It's a spring garden but looking so lush and mature!
ReplyDeleteI have recently discovered your blog. I love all the garden you describe and have told my husband that our summer holidays 2011 will be in the UK ;-)
Ellie
Sooooo beautiful, loved it, thanks for this post ! Gina
ReplyDeleteI agree, the wonderful thing about a spring garden is the lush greens of new growth. My list of gardens to visit is just growing too :-)
ReplyDeleteThat was a wonderful post. I have been fascinated by the garden at Charleston for many years. I just got a new book called The Garden at Charleston: A Bloomsbury Garden Through the Seasons by Sue Snell that is worth taking a look at.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot with the terra cotta urn in the foreground. Really enjoy seeing all the English gardens through your camera lens.
ReplyDelete