On a sunny day in June of last year, and anxious to avoid a long list of home DIY jobs, I drove a few miles over the South Downs to the village of Alfriston.* I spent an absorbing hour browsing in the book shop, peering through windows (some of them public), not going into the … Continue reading A Garden Tour: The Clergy House, Alfriston
Garden Visit
Follers Manor Opening Times 2015
Last summer I visited a stunning private garden called Follers Manor. The gardens sit on a shoulder of the South Downs, to the south of Alfriston, East Sussex and above the pretty village of Litlington. Here's an account of my visit. (I didn't use all the photos from that day. Here are a few … Continue reading Follers Manor Opening Times 2015
Follers Manor
When Geoff and Anne Shaw bought Follers Manor in 2006 it was a mess. The house was virtually uninhabitable and the grounds an eyesore: a jumble of tussock, weeds and builders' rubble with a large, long-abandoned tennis court as a central feature. Today with the house and gardens rejuvenated it is easier to understand why … Continue reading Follers Manor
Gravetye Manor
When I planted a Clematis 'Gravetye Beauty' at The Priory, I had no idea what or who it was named after. And then in August a blogging friend, Sara, wrote about a visit to Gravetye Manor and the penny dropped (you can read her post - here). Sara's description and photos were captivating and I wished … Continue reading Gravetye Manor
Charleston Manor
In a quiet crease of the South Downs lies Charleston Manor. It is somewhere I have long wanted to visit and so, when I heard that the gardens were open, I almost fell over with excitement. After a pub lunch in nearby Litlington, we trundled up the yew-lined drive, to the house. The house itself … Continue reading Charleston Manor
The Anxious Gardener 