Hodnet Hall Gardens

A Brief History

The first known habitation on this Hodnet Hall site was a Norman castle in the 12th century.

More is known about the Timber framed Tudor mansion, which was eventually vacated by the family in 1865, in favour of a new residence up on the hill with stunning views over the beautiful Shropshire countryside.

All that remains of the Tudor house, is the stable block which is now the rather good garden restaurant. We sampled the Victoria sponge and the coffee.

In the nineteen twenties Brigadier A. G. W. Heber-Percy had the stairway built, to link the house down to the gardens. It was also he that designed the daisy chain of pools, helping himself with the digging.

The current custodians Algy and Jane Heber-Percy took over in 1966, and it was they who invited the public in, to enjoy the gardens.

This lovely brochure was only one pound, which I think is very good value.

Plant Fair and Refreshments

Once you’ve parked, there is a handy plan of the gardens in the car-park to get your bearings.

The day we went there was plant fair on. This may well have been the reason for my visit…..

The plant stalls were laid out from the car-park, right down Beech Avenue. 

I did offer my garden apprentice the opportunity to wander off with the friends we’d gone with. I said, he could leave me at the stalls and I’d catch them up later, but he refused to leave my side!

The plants were lovely quality and I did end up giving in to temptation to buy six. I’m especially pleased with a stunning Clematis, only my second in the garden. It’s going to be planted down the side of the summer-house, just before the white garden. I also bought another Salvia, the flowers are the darkest pink. The other four plants are not flowering yet, so I’ll be showing you those later on.

This is what I bought.

• Astrantia ‘Gill Richardson’
• Clematis ‘Taiga’
• Monarda ‘Jacob Cline’
• Physostegia virginiana ‘Miss Manners’
• Salvia ‘Love & Wishes’
• Veronicastrum ‘Fasunatiin’

At the bottom of Beech Avenue you reach the garden restaurant, so as it was mid morning we stopped for a coffee and slice of cake.

Onto the Kitchen Garden

Refreshed we headed off for the kitchen garden. Always at the top of our list to visit.

Passing by the ancient Tithe Barn, dated to 1619.

Just before you reach the walled garden you are treated to a beautiful vista. Across the open countryside, a Dovecote in the middle of a field draws your eye.

The Kitchen Garden

Immediately through the double gates is a most colourful border on your left. It’s filled with the bright colours of summer, from pink Roses and Geraniums, orange Geums and purple and white Campanulas.

Next you can peep into the old greenhouse with Nectarines growing on the wall and Fig trees in the ground. I am rather chuffed to say that our outdoor fig tree has larger figs on!

Then onto the a larger greenhouse with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Chillies and tender flowers.

The huge walled garden has fruit trees growing up the walls. This feels like a much, much larger ‘home from home’, as we have our fruit trees growing up the walls. The first border on the left, has alternating vegetables and flowers. A block of Sweetcorn is followed by Dahlias and Gladioli, then outdoor Tomatoes next to a row of Lavender. This is known as companion planting and is supposed to keep down the pests.

Further around the borders are filled with Peoni’s

The centre is divided up with more fruit trees and rows of Roses and Lupins.

As you continue around you eventually reach large beds, with all sorts of lovely vegetables.

The Gardens and Pools

As you walk back passing the Title barn again, you can turn right and walk through a freshly planted woodland area. It then opens up and you find a summerhouse.

You could then follow the path around to Magnolia Walk, but at this time of year they wouldn’t be flowering so we doubled back.

We took a footpath that brings you out at the Main Pool.

This gives you the first glimpse of the house high above.

You look across the pool which is full of water lilies, to see the staircase that would take you up to the house.

As you walk further along just as the Main Pool turns into the Water Garden, there is a sculptures of two storks.

At the far end of the Water Garden there was a swan on the water and another on the embankment. They are obviously very used to people as they seems unfazed by us.

We didn’t walk to the end of all of the pools instead crossing one of the bridges and walking back towards the house. At the foot of the staircase there was a family of geese, mum, dad and three babies.

We have a lot of geese in our village as we have a number of ponds around, but I have never seen any goslings, what a thrill.

The final area to pass through before reaching Beech Avenue, that would take us back to the car, was the Circular Garden. A dazzling splash of colour from Peonies planted en-masse, laid out in the style of a maize. Different varieties, ranging from white and palest pink, right the way through to dark magenta.

The outer circle was then planted with pink Roses.

Leaving the bright colours behind, we could see the plant stalls at the end of the Avenue. Just a quick walk up the hill trying to resist buying anymore plants.

This is definitely one of the nicest gardens I have visited. I do feel that the water makes it with the beautiful reflections, together with the fact that whichever way you look you are treated to fabulous vistas.

We will certainly be returning.

I just need to find somewhere to squeeze these plants in now!

Stay safe & happy gardening.

Thanks to my lovely brother-in-law, for sharing some of his photos with me.