Corsley House

Discover the captivating private garden of Keith Johnson, who spent 20 years as Anthropologie’s buyer-at-large and Glen Senk, former CEO of Urban Outfitters Inc, nestled on the Wiltshire-Somerset border. Start the day with refreshments followed by a rare tour and talk by head gardener, Jo Downes.

Corsley House started life as a picturesque farmhouse in the early 18th century, resembling a fairy tale castle with its leaded windows and stone turrets. In 1812 the Barton family hired renowned Bath Architect John Pinch the elder to add a substantial Greek revival addition lending the house a unique character with one entrance feeling much older than the other.

The 15-acre garden, surrounding the house on all sides, features a walled kitchen garden at its heart. The garden includes a topiary garden, orchard, ornamental trees, rhododendrons, shrubs, and thousands of perennials, as well as a unique sculptured wave lawn established in 2019 and a cloud Yew hedge. A wildflower meadow with cornflowers, poppies, and oxeye daisies adds seasonal colour, while ponds and stone fountains provide tranquil water sounds near the kitchen.

The Victorian kitchen garden and cut flower garden supply everyone who lives and works on the property with produce. Jo divided the walled garden into eight sections: a fruit cage, a rose garden, a herb garden, cut flower beds, and vegetable beds. The garden is organic, using companion planting to increase biodiversity and deter pests. The tour concludes with a visit to the Threshing Barn, now an entertaining space, and Glen’s weekly knitting group venue. Enjoy the scenic views and enchanting garden stories.

For lunch, savour a light meal in the Walled Garden or the Threshing Barn should the weather not allow. This garden is rarely open to the public, making this a unique opportunity to explore a beautifully curated and productive space.

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