4 June 2011

A return visit to this property to visit the rose gardens.

The original building on this site was a priory, founded by William Briwere in 1201.
At the dissolution of the Monasteries the priory was acquired by William Lord Sandys, who converted it to a house. Mottisfont passed in 1684 to Sir John Mill, nephew of the last Lord Sandys. Sir John's second son, Sir Richard, succeeded in 1706. It was he who transformed the Tudor house to the form we see today.
After 400 years the family sold the estate in 1934 to Gilbert Russell, a descendent of William Briwere. Mr Russell died in 1942 and in 1957 Mrs Russell gave the Abbey and Estate to the National Trust.
In 1971 Mrs Russell decided to give up using the kitchen garden and in 1972 this became the home for the famous collection of historic shrub roses created by Graham Stuart Thomas. For more information follow this link to the NT site.
 

A much brighter day than our previous visit in August 2008. A nice drift of daises on the lawn next to the path to the house.

The gardens were packed with visitors today.

Quite a large globe flower head on Allium albopilosum Christophii

Unfortunately these roses were past their best. I do think they still make a nice picture against the orange brick wall.

Every colour of the rainbow.

I like all the shades of green here contrasting with the pink and purple.

What foresight to imagine how this would look when planting.

The shop in the old stables was packed. I kept well clear!

The house from the eastern lawn.

A closer look at a corner of the house.

This will look nice in a week or so when the lavender is in full flower.

The western side of the house.

In this view you can just make out the Lime walk and the stables beyond.

Back to the gardens for a final dose of pollen to feed my hayfever!

A few less people around at the end of the afternoon.

A cottage garden look to this corner of the garden.

The view from the seat in the corner of the garden.

9 August 2008

A first visit to this National Trust property on a wet Saturday afternoon.

The House. The original building was a priory founded in 1201 by William Briwere. For more information on the Abbey follow this link.

A side view of the house.

The stable block which now houses the information centre and exhibition hall. Each of the planted tubs here contained a different variety of runner bean.

There is a large walled garden. This houses the national collection of old-fashioned shrub roses.