West Dean Gardens

A nineteenth century Gothic house, designed by James Wyatt, with a twentieth century Arts and Crafts garden, designed by Harold Peto in 1911. Edward James, who lived here, was a patron of surrealist art. The great feature of West Dean Gardens is a 300' stone pergola with timber beams.The sunken garden has a pond. The kitchen garden and glass houses have been restored. They are excellent and much more interesting than the dull rose collections so often placed in kitchen gardens. There is also a park and woodland garden, in a beautiful valley.

Head Gardener's Comment

A place of beauty and tranquillity in the rolling South Downs.

The restored Walled Kitchen Garden features some of the finest Victorian glasshouses in the country. Sixteen in total, packed full of exotic flowers, seasonal fruit and vegetables –from orchids to nectarines, peppers and cucumber, tomatoes to aubergines.

The architectural delights of West Dean can be seen in their full splendour – with Harold Peto’s spectacular 300 foot-long Edwardian Pergola dominating the North Lawn behind the main House. There are also four nineteenth century rustic summerhouses constructed from different materials and complementary designs within the grounds which offer shelter and respite.

The River Lavant winds its way through the grounds and Spring Garden with unusual ‘Bognor rock’ and flintwork bridges across.

Wander through the extensive grounds, past rare trees and shrubs, ornamental borders, a naturalistically-planted pond.