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Minterne |
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Minterne tel: 01300 341370 Area: Dorset |
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| Visitor Information | www.minterne.co.uk | ||||||||||||
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| Minterne Dorset All details updated* as of: 20/02/2008 |
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| Opening Days and Hours | |||||||||||||
1st March - 31st Oct; every day; 10am - 6pm. |
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| Parties
/ Coaches: Yes |
Groups
/ Coaches need Appointment: Yes |
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House
Open for Viewing: Yes |
National
Garden Scheme days: No |
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| Best
Times of Year to Visit: Apr/May Autumn |
To
see: Rhododendrons, azaleas, Spring flowers Sensational Autumn colours |
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| Admission Prices | |||||||||||||
| Adult £4; Child (under 16) free, accompanied by adult. | |||||||||||||
| Onsite Facilities | |||||||||||||
| Parking:
Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: No |
Shop:
No Plants for Sale: No Lunches: No |
Teas:
No Light Refreshment: No Picnics: No |
Dogs
Allowed: Yes On Lead only: Yes Special Events: No |
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| Other
Facilities: Free car park with picnic facilities. Conference facilities. Wedding Venue. |
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| Garden Features | |||||||||||||
| Rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas, water features with primulas, astilbes and water-lilies Pieris Forestii, Davidia Involucrata (Pocket handkerchief tree) Autumn colours |
English Heritage Garden Grade: II | ||||||||||||
| National Collection: | |||||||||||||
| Description of Garden | Designer:
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| Although the hills are chalk, the garden is situated on a mound of green sand, which runs for a mile down the centre of the valley. This, with the humus and dappled shade provided by the large beech trees, was the perfect setting for the rhododendrons and magnolias gathered from expeditions to the Himalayas by Wilson, Forrest, Rock and Kingdon Ward. They tower over small lakes, streams and cascades which in summer are enhanced by primulas, astilbes, and water-lilies. March sees the magnolias and early rhododendrons, April and May, Japanese cherries and a profusion of rhododendrons and azaleas, together with Pieris Forestii with its brilliant red shoots. In late May and June many fine specimens of Davidia Involucrata - the pocket handkerchief tree - are a particular feature. The autumn colouring is quite sensational. | |||||||||||||
| History of Garden | |||||||||||||
| Minterne has been the home of the Churchill and Digby families for nearly 350 years. John Churchill acquired the property in the early 1600's and was succeeded by his son, Sir Winston Churchill. The Churchills were Royalists in the Civil War after which they were heavily fined by Parliament but after the restoration of Charles II their fortunes were also restored. Sir Winston left Minterne to his younger son, much to the displeasure of his eldest son, John Duke of Marlborough, who just had to 'make do' with Blenheim! In 1768 Admiral Robert Digby, a younger son of the 7th Baron Digby of Sherborne Castle, bought Minterne from the executors of the Will of General Charles Digby. In his diary later that year Robert wrote"Visited my new estate, valley very bare, trees not thriving, house ill contrived and ill situated". He immediately set about improving it with an eye to Capability Brown's work at Sherborne Castle. | |||||||||||||
| Nearby Dorset Hotels, Facilities & Amenities | |||||||||||||
| Hotels
& Accommodation: The New Inn, Cerne Abbas |
Restaurants: |
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| Inns & Pubs: Brace of Pheasants, Plush The New Inn, Cerne Abbas The Red Lion, Cerne Abbas |
Villages / Towns
/ Sightseeing: Cerne Abbas - 2 miles south Dorchester - 10 miles south Sherborne - 9 miles north |
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  - Dorset |
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*Information
Updates
Garden guide and review © Gardens-Guide.com and Armchair Travel Co Ltd Armchair
Travel Co Ltd also operates these Click HERE for more details
0238_Minterne.jpg - Minterne (Dorset)
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