************* Garden Owners, Please copy this information and paste it into an email to: wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us. Regards, Armchair Travel Co Ltd http://www.armchair-travel.com ************* Garden Name: Arlington Court Last Modified: 13/01/2011 Garden ID: 0418 pic: 0418_ArlingtonCourt.jpg Owner: National Trust Address: Arlington Barnstaple Postcode: EX31 4LP County: Devon tel: 01271 850296 fax: 01271 851108 website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arlington email: arlingtoncourt {at} nationaltrust.org.uk Features: Intimate and intriguing Regency house, set in extensive estate, and impressive collection of horse-drawn vehicles; The Trust's largest collection of horse-drawn carriages, Varied collections of eccentric traveller Rosalie Chichester; View Devon's largest colony of lesser horseshoe bats via the 'bat-cam' (May to August); Charming Victorian pleasure grounds; Home to Jacob sheep, red deer and peacocks; Carriage rides around the grounds English Heritage Grade: II Opening Times: 19th Feb - 27th Feb; daily; 11am - 3pm 5th Mar - 6th Mar; Sat & Sun; 11am - 3pm 13th Mar - 31st Oct; daily; 11am - 5pm 5th Nov - 18th Dec; Sat & Sun; 11am - 3pm 19th Dec - 31st Dec; everyday except 24/25; 11am - 3pm Grounds open all year, dawn to dusk Last admission 30mins before closing Best Times of Year to Visit: May and June, August To see: Produce in the kitchen garden National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: No Comments: Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: House Open for Viewing: Yes Comments: 19th Feb - 27th Feb; daily; 11am - 3pm 5th Mar - 6th Mar; Sat & Sun; 11am - 3pm 13th Mar - 31st Oct; daily; 11am - 5pm 5th Nov - 18th Dec; Sat & Sun; 11am - 3pm Admission Prices: Adult £9, child £4.50, family £22.50 family (1 adult) £14. Gardens & Carriage Collection only: £6.50, child £3.25. Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: Yes Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: No Dogs allowed: Yes Only on Lead: Yes Events: Yes Other Facilities: Designer: Description of Garden: The grounds at Arlington Court are largely informal, with large clumps of rhododendron, hydrangeas, specimen trees and drifts of wildflowers in the spring. The exception is the one acre Victorian garden, which extends across three levels of grass with a conservatory as its centrepiece. The herbaceous borders flanking conservatory are full of colour throughout the summer from perennials while the high wall behind hides the newly restored kitchen garden. Circular flower beds have been cut into one of the terraces to recreate basket beds filled with bedding plants, and enclosed by ironwork frames through which cobaeas grow. The looped pattern is echoed by the arches of honeysuckle which flank a goldfish pond and fountain on the middle terrace of the garden. To the south of the Victorian garden are spectacular clumps of red, pink and white rhododendrons, ferns, pampas grass and gunnera. The newest jewel in Arlington's crown is the walled kitchen garden which has been restored to full working order with heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables growing. The produce is used in dishes in the tearoom and sold as veg boxes from the shop. History: Arlington has undergone many changes, from productive Tudor gardens to a 'picturesque' landscape which was further developed with 'gardenesque' features and Victorian style. The Victorian flower garden was laid out in 1865. The house is Georgian and is surrounded by what was originally conceived as a wildlife sanctuary by Rosalie Chichester, with a lakeside nature reserve at its heart, for her menagerie of domestic animals, some of whom still graze the park. Local Inns: Pyne Arms The Old Station Inn Ring O'Bells Accomodation: Barnstaple Hotel, Barnstaple Valley of Rocks Hotel, Lynton Restaurants: Village/Town/Sightseeing: