Historic Gardens

Godinton House, Ashford


Picture of Godinton House Godinton house and gardens are set in a beautiful 18th century landscaped park with views across the countryside to Great Chart church to the south. The gardens were designed by the architect Reginald Blomfield at the turn of the 20th century and include terraced lawns, topiary, formal pond and rose garden all surrounded by a vast yew hedge and ornamented with impressive statuary. In contrast to Robinson and Jekyll's natural planting principles, Blomfield created a strict distinction between garden and countryside bringing ‘house and garden into harmony, to make the house grow out of its surroundings’. The additions of herbaceous borders and tree planting by subsequent owners have modified and softened the original design. A small walled Italian garden with central fountain and scented mediterranean planting looks out over the wild garden. The 18th century walled kitchen garden contains delphinium borders, potager planting, ornamental, alpine and fern houses.


www.godinton-house-gardens.co.uk

Goodnestone Park, Wingham


Goodnestone Park is a handsome 18th century house and parkland where Jane Austen frequently visited her brother who grew up there. Old trees, the walled garden and some terracing survive from the 18th and early 19th centuries. A woodland garden dates from the early part of the 20th century. Wonderful plantsman's gardens have been developed over the last 50 years, in the walled kitchen garden and surrounding woodlands.


www.goodnestoneparkgardens.co.uk

Great Comp, St Mary's Platt


Great Comp Garden, near Sevenoaks, comprises of seven acres of beautiful and rare plants around a 17th century manor house which includes an Italian garden, romantic ruins and woodland walks. It was developed by Roderick and Joyce Cameron in the 1950s and was first open to the public in 1968. It now holds garden festivals, workshops and outdoor theatre productions and is home to a diverse collection of Salvias.


www.greatcompgarden.co.uk