APOLOGIES, but Northamptonshire Gardens has been a little slack this week and forgot to post this weekend’s gardens. Hopefully we’re not too late and you can visit these lovely gardens, all open on Sunday, June 5th, some new to the NGS scheme.
FINEDON GARDENS
NN9 5JN. 2m NE of Wellingborough. 6m SE Kettering, A6/A510 junction. Home-made teas 67-69 High Street. Adm £2.50, chd free. Sun 5, 26 June (2-6).
24 ALBERT ROAD
67-69 HIGH STREET
11 THRAPSTON ROAD
The village has a varied history dating from Roman times and evolving through farming, ironstone mining, shoe and leather manufacturing. An ancient parish church with a collection of ‘green men’ and many other historical buildings. All three gardens are very different – everything from vegetables to flowers on show. Large selection of home-raised plants for sale -all proceeds for NGS.
NEW GREAT BILLING VILLAGE, Northampton
NN3 9HA. 3m E of Northampton. off A4500. Home-made teas
Combined adm £4, chd free. Sun 5 June (2-6).
NEW 20 ELWES WAY
NEW FIELD VIEW
NEW PLANTATION HOUSE
NEW 20 STANDING STONES
NEW 22 STANDING STONES
The village is listed in the Domesday Book and parts still retain the old atmosphere with the C12 church of St Andrew and the old rectory. At one time the Elwes family owned almost the whole village. They lived in Billing Hall, sadly demolished in 1956. Today the only tangible links are The Elwes Arms, Elwes Way and Lady Winefride’s Walk. One garden is in the conservation area, which is predominately stone-built. A short walk away, across open parkland by the church; the other gardens are in a recent development, in the grounds of the old Hall. Behind conventional facades lie unexpected delights. In one you could imagine being on a beach, another is formal, with clipped hedges and a cricket pavilion. One has a series of garden rooms around old farm buildings. A warm welcome awaits. Regret no wheelchair access at Plantation House.
NEW HOSTELLARIE, 78 Breakleys Road, Desborough NN14 2PT.. 6m N of Kettering. 5m S of Market Harborough. Signed from centre of Desborough. Home-made teas incl gluten free. Adm £2.50, chd free. Suns 5 June; 3 July (2-6).
Long town garden, divided into rooms of different character, courtyard, cottage garden, Japanese walk, fruit and vegetable area, all linked by lawns and grass paths. Ponds, water features and a collection of over 35 different hostas, of all sizes, in beds and containers.
NEW KARELL HOUSE, 16, Belfry Lane, Collingtree Park, Northampton NN4 0PB. 1.9m E J15 M1 Northamptonshire. Exit J15 of M1, head towards Northampton on A508, pass Hilton Hotel on L. Follow sign to Collingtree Park Golf Course, L onto winding Brook Lane, 3rd R onto Turnberry Lane, 1st R onto Belfrey Lane. Adm £3, chd free. Suns 5 June; 21 Aug (12-5).
Constantly evolving garden adjacent to the Collingtree Park Golf Course with Wootton Brook at the bottom of the garden which consists of mixed borders full of hostas, tree peonies and many old favourites also some rare and unusual plants surrounded by well manicured lawns. River bank not suitable for wheelchairs.
LITCHBOROUGH GARDENS
Litchborough NN12 8JQ. 10m SW of Northampton, nr Towcester. Please use car park nr village green. Maps provided. Home-made teas in Villlage Hall. Combined adm £4, chd free. Sun 5 June (2-6).
BRUYERE COURT
4 KILN LANE
THE LIME HOUSE
ORCHARD HOUSE
51 TOWCESTER ROAD
NEW 41 TOWCESTER ROAD
A small attractive ironstone village within conservation area, listed buildings and C13 church. 6 gardens of diverse size and interest. Lawns, ornamental lakes with rhododendrons and azaleas. Cottage garden with well, summerhouse and walled herb garden. 300yr-old cottage with modern cottage garden developed over the past 10yrs, landscape architects’ country garden designed for low maintenance, mixed terrace garden with some work still in progress. Wildlife pond and patio with pots and containers and a small garden with shrubs, rockery and productive vegetable garden.
LYVEDEN NEW BIELD, near Oundle
Oundle PE8 5AT. National Trust. 01832 205358. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk. 5m SW of Oundle, 3m E of Brigstock. Signed off A427 & A6116. Adm £5, chd free. For other opening times and information, please phone or see garden website. For NGS – Sun 5 June (10.30-5).
One of England’s oldest garden landscapes, abandoned in 1605 after family involvement in the Gunpowder Plot, Lyveden still retains original terraces, prospect mounts, canals and the impressive garden lodge built to symbolise the Treshams’ Catholic faith. Recently replanted 5-acre orchard of pre-C17 tree varieties. Garden tour 2pm.
PRESTON CAPES and LITTLE PRESTON GARDENS
Daventry NN11 3TF.6m SW of Daventry. 13m NE of Banbury. 3m N of Canons Ashby. Home-made teas at Old West Farm. Homemade light lunches served 12-2, cakes and teas all day. Adm £4, chd free. Sun 5 June (12-5).
CITY COTTAGE
LADYCROFT
LANGDALE HOUSE
NORTH FARM
OLD WEST FARM
Little Preston. ¾m E of Preston Capes.
VILLAGE FARM
WEST ORCHARD FARM HOUSE
Little Preston.. ¾m E of Preston Capes.
Seven varied gardens in a beautiful south Northamptonshire ironstone village mostly with wonderful views. Gardens range from small contemporary to large extensive with woodland walk and ponds.
NOT open for the NGS, but for church funds, is CREATON Gardens, near Northampton, also open on Sunday June 5.
FOR the 16th year in a row the villagers of Creaton will be throwing open their garden gates to share their pride in their village and pleasure in their plots.
The beer tent and barbecue on The Green are always popular, and there will be a jazz band and a traction engine for those who are less inclined to wander amid the petunias and potatoes. Among an interesting variety of stalls will be the Northamptonshire Beekeepers Association’s observation
hive.
There will be somewhere to sit and savour teas and a wonderful array of home-made cakes.
Entry to the gardens is only £3.50, and children under 16 go free.
Barbecue and Jazz Band from 12 noon, gardens open at 1pm. Songs of Praise at 6:30pm in St Michael’s and All Angels.
Northamptonshire Gardens 