Garden Finder > England > Devon > Winsford Walled Garden

Last updated on 17 March 08

Winsford Walled Garden

  2.3/5 (3 ratings)
  • Border at Winsford Walled Garden Photograph © Winsford Walled Garden
  • Winsford Walled Garden, Devon Photograph © Winsford Walled Garden

Gardenvisit Editorial

A Victorian walled flower garden with original 14ft garden walls. The garden has been restored since 1999 by the Gilmore family. There is a pergola, gazebo and Victorian teak-built greenhouses.

Head Gardener's Comment

I arrived to an overgrown ruin during July 1999 determined to create a summer garden from scratch inside the walls. Winding paths encourage visitors to explore borders up to 40ft deep. Clematis clamber up the walls and shrubbery. Wander freely amongst giant bamboo or go inside the teak-built Victorian greenhouses we restored ourselves. There's also a giant pergola and a gazebo big enough for forty. But perhaps the best description comes from our visitors. "Absolutely stunning & beautiful!! Best I've seen". Sam & Paula Dellar, Seattle, WA, USA.

History

Built circa 1880. Originally a walled flower garden and adjacent vegetable garden. Photos show up to 30 gardeners. Full history and photos of the house inside (1905) available in covered exhibition. The site steadily deteriorated into a ruin after 1933 until its surprise discovery by the present owners in 1999.

Plants of Note

Too many to list. But the gardens contain large collections of bamboo, bougainvillea, clematis, dahlia, hibiscus, hedychium, helenium, hosta, thymus and salvia.

Address - Winsford Walled Garden, Winsford Lane, Halwill Junction, Devon, England, EX21 5XT
Opening times - April 05 to October 31 daily. Open 9:30am to 5pm (last entry).
Admission - Adults £5. Children over 12 £1.50.
Website - Visit the Winsford Walled Garden website

Nearby Gardens

Gardens within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Nearby Garden Nurseries

Garden Nurseries within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

  • over 2 years ago paula said

    don't go here. the owner became exteremely abusive to my elderly parents when my partially sighted, disabled dad got the mobility scooter he had lent us stuck in the greenhouse door. he made my father get off the scooter and ranted at my mum - a diminutive 78 year old about people not respecting his property. a truly unpleasant experience. i would hav given it no stars but couldn't.

    (1.0/5)
  • over 3 years ago May Baker said

    A good private garden, testimony to hard work and a keen interest in plants, BUT..and it's a big but, don't go expecting a public garden to view. It is small...and the guide of 2 hours is frankly misleading. My husband is disabled on sticks, geriatric and a retired alpine specialist, so inclined to take his time in gardens. We saw everything however in about 30 minutes, which makes an entrance fee of £5 per head steep at very best! Good labelling, often missing in proper public gardens and some unusual plants, but not in our opinions worth the trek down unmade roads never mind the fee. Wouldn't allow me to award zero stars.

    (1.0/5)
  • almost 5 years ago Tony and Shirley Lomax said

    This is s wonderful example of what hard work and enthusiasm can achieve. A truly stunning display full of interest and diversity with many unusual plants and plant combinations. A beautiful garden well worth a visit,

    (5.0/5)

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