Arundel Castle - Quirky at it's best
Bank holiday offered up a sunny opportunity to go on another garden visit - AKA a busman's holiday! Having never been to Arundel Castle and Gardens, I felt this was a good a time as any to venture west and have a mosey.
Arundel Castle - in all its oppressive grandeur!
There are a number of garden areas to visit. As you walk up the hill towards the main walled garden you pass by The Rose Garden that has been sited on the old Medieval bowling green. Although at its best in June and July, some of the roses were still flourishing in August.
The Rose Garden on the old Medieval bowling green.
The Collector Earl's Garden is the most intriguing of areas in the grounds and resides in part of the Georgian and Victorian walled garden. Designed by Isobel and Julian Bannerman, it reminiscent of an old Jacobean Garden (not a replicate of one). The garden is not like one we expect to see on the public garden trail, and is really worth a visit. Water features, a grotto, an open courtyard and oak buildings and pergola dominate the space and are exciting and inspiring. Try to get there early, or later in the day to avoid the crowds, to soak up the wondrous stillness and atmosphere, particularly for this part of the garden. Bellow is a gallery of images from part of the Bannerman design.
The Stumpery is another intriguing part of the garden. The cathedral looms down over you as you wander through the winding paths, past borders of sub tropical and woodland planting, nestled in amongst upturned roots from trees off the estate.
The Stumpery at the foot of the Cathedral.
The rest of the garden comprises of meadow planting, an organic kitchen garden, a cut flower garden and traditional English herbaceous borders. The 2 victorian greenhouses set against one of the brick walls are magnificent. I even saw a couple of mango plants thriving on one! The old heating system is still present (not sure if it still works) and for a moment you are taken back in time. Just lovely.
Echiums and clipped yew stretching up towards the sky.
The gardens at Arundel Castle are definitely worth a visit. But also, don't forget the house/castle/stately home! The rooms are fabulous, and as the Duke of Norfolk lives there, the injection of modern day in amongst various decades of updating (mainly through the 20th Century) that has occurred since it was once a fully functioning medieval castle is fascinating.
Definately add this to your garden visit wish list!
A sample of the English perennial borders