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Goodnestone Park Gardens
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Goodnestone Park Gardens

Area Guides: Wingham
Attractions:

Gardens

Telephone - please mention Let's Stay Kent: 01304 840107
Email: Click here to email Goodnestone Park Gardens
Website: http://www.goodnestoneparkgardens.co.uk


Details: Visitors to Goodnestone are always astonished to discover such a haven of stunning tranquillity hidden away in south-east Kent. The gardens have many centuries of history behind them and have been fashioned by generations of the FitzWalter family who have lived here since they built the house. The gardens have been brought to their present level of celebrated quality during the last forty years. They are full of gardening quality at all times of the year, from early spring to late-autumn, but they are just as pleasurable for a peaceful family day out or a walk in the Kent countryside. The gardens also provide the setting for special events, including concerts, plant fairs and wedding receptions. We hope that you will enjoy visiting us.

History
Goodnestone Park was built in 1704 by Brook Bridges who had recently purchased the estate. The date of the house is scratched onto a brick on the main front. During the early 18th century the house was surrounded by wide-ranging formal gardens. These disappeared later in the 18th century when Sir Brook Bridges, the 3rd baronet and great-grandson of the builder, replaced the gardens with a landscape park in the trend of the time. The next phase of important alterations to the Goodnestone gardens came during the 1840s. Sir Brook Bridges 5th Baronet decided to modify the entrance to the house, adding the impressive portico to what had been the back and to which a new approach drive swept down from both sides. Within the curve of the drive he made a sequence of terraced lawns with central flights of steps. On the other side where the entrance had been, he again terraced the lawns between the house and the park which he separated from the garden with the present wall.

Between the two world wars Emmy FitzWalter, Brook FitzWalter's aunt, made major improvements to the gardens, particularly the woodland garden with its rockwork and pool. But during World War Two the house at Goodnestone was requisitioned by the military and when Brook and Margaret FitzWalter moved into the house in 1955 the gardens were in a derelict state. Four years later, in 1959, a devastating fire destroyed the roof and upper two storeys of the house and the rebuilding took 18 months.

Work on the gardens did not begin properly until the mid-1960s and the reinstatement and growth to their present standard has principally been the work of Margaret FitzWalter. In the process she has created what many visitors regard to be one of the outstanding country gardens in England.

The Walled Garden
The Walled Garden is Goodnestone's most renowned and popular area, and many visitors think that the central view through the succession of mellow brick-walled enclosures to the church tower, is one of the best in any English garden.
The Woodland Garden
The winding paths reveal a rich array of trees, shrubs and smaller woodland treasures: especially good collections of witch hazels, snowdrops and hellebores in spring, camellias, cornus and magnolias in early summer, then in late-summer banks of hydrangeas produce a mass of deep blue flowers and tall evergreen eucryphias are covered in white flowers.
The Parterre and Terraces
The main front of the house overlooks a wide expanse of lawn from which a broad flight of steps leads down to the lower terrace where, in 2000, a parterre designed by Charlotte Molesworth was laid out to celebrate the millennium.
The Arboretum and Gravel Garden
Between the lime avenue and the woodland garden what was an area of rough pasture has been transformed into an arboretum with an outstanding collection of ornamental trees.
Below the arboretum, back towards the house, an old tennis court has been the scene of the latest transformation, into a new gravel garden that has been completed in 2003.

Garden opening times for 2007
Note: Nursery open at same times as Garden
Note: Dogs are not allowed in the garden

Early Spring Season
The gardens are open for early spring bulbs and shrubs on Sundays 18th & 25th February, 4th, 11th, 18th March
Admittance on all days 12 noon-4pm

Main Open Season
21st March – 5th October
Weekdays 11am-5pm
Saturdays and Sundays 12 noon-5pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays (open Bank Holidays)

Admission
Adults £4.50
Senior Citizens £4.00
Students £2.80
Children 6 – 16 £1
Season Ticket £18.00
Disabled in wheelchairs £1.00
Season ticket £18.00
Parties of 20 and over £4.00 each
Parties outside opening £6.00
Parties of 20 and over (guided) £6.00 each
House open by prior appointment (guided): Parties up to 20 £3.50 each
There are full disabled facilities and most areas of the gardens are accessible to wheelchairs

Coach parties are most welcome but please book in advance.

Our address is:
Goodnestone Park Gardens
Wingham
Canterbury
Kent
CT3 1PR

Click here to view accommodation in the Canterbury area


Disclaimer: The information on this leisure attraction was presented with the best of intentions. Any reported errors will be corrected immediately. People interested in contacting the above leisure attraction should confirm for themselves the accuracy of any data presented.



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Another Kent Tourist Guide listing created by Let's Stay Kent.
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