Chilworth Manor
£85. Elegant and tranquil, the peaceful garden surrounded by pasture and woodland is a little piece of heaven. Described as simply ‘spiffing!’
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The historic Encombe House and Estate is nestled within a unique stunning valley in the Purbeck Hills. Largely hidden from the surrounding hillsides, the house and parkland have developed over the past few hundred years. The garden and estate have been extensively redeveloped since the owners bought it in 2009. A modern, sympathetic design for the garden by Tom Stuart-Smith has been implemented since 2011 with the majority of the hard and soft landscaping being completed in 2012.
The main garden to the south of the house includes large sweeping borders filled with grasses and perennials that embrace the Temple. Behind this lies the walled garden, where deep herbaceous beds follow the walls; in the centre, surrounded by a young orchard, is a yew-hedged garden planted around a millstone fountain. Elsewhere, there are woodland walks, wildflower meadows, lakes, kitchen garden, glasshouses, and wilder areas all with glimpses of the Jurassic Coast. Varied planting within the extensive borders mix prairie style modern planting with traditional English cottage style, underpinned with structural shrub planting. The garden continues to be developed with new areas being added, together with massed bulb and tree planting.
The garden is not open to the public and the visit is by kind permission of Mr and Mrs J Gaggero. Our guide will be Head Gardener Simon Hansford.