*************
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: Cothay Manor Gardens
Last Modified: 18/01/2011
Garden ID: 0225

pic: 0225_Cothay.jpg

Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Alistair Robb
Address:
Greenham
Wellington

Postcode: TA21 0JR
County: Somerset

tel: 01823-672283
fax: 
website: www.cothaymanor.co.uk
email: cothaymanor {at} btinternet.com

Features: 
Romantic plantsman's garden laid out in the 1920's, now restored and enhanced.
12 acres around classical medieval Manor
Featured on national TV programme at end 2008

English Heritage Grade:
II*

Opening Times:
Gardens: 3rd Apr - 29th Sept; Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun, BHs; 11am - 5.30pm, last entries 4.30pm.
Groups: every day of the week during the season; 9.30am - 6pm
Winter tours: First and Last Sunday each month from November until March. Guided tour: 11am - advance bookings only, minimum of seven days before proposed tour

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
Late May - end July

To see: 


National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 25th July

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: Yes

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: All groups by appointment, throughout the year 

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: Groups only 20+ by appointment, every day of the year except Christmas week. Two groups from the general public taken around the house at 11.45am and 2.15pm, at £6.50 per person (no children).

Admission Prices:
Adult, Gardens £7; Child (under 12) £3; 
House pre-booked in groups of 20+ only. Please contact for info pack
Season tickets: Single: £28, Joint Membership: £49. Includes a free hot drink per card holder, per visit.

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: No

Other Facilities:
Lunches, supper or light refreshments can be arranged for groups, similarly picnics. Please request info pack.
Calendar of Events - Please go to our website for full details of forthcoming events
4th June - The Festival Players present 'The taming of the Shrew' - Performance 7pm - doors open 6pm. Box office-01823 672283
18th June - In support of St Margaret's Hospice 'Gardens, Plants and Food Fair'
8th,9th,10th July - Fine Art, Decorative and Antiques Fair - Fri 1-6pm, Sat/Sun-10-4pm


Designer: Reginald Cooper DSO; Alastair & Mary-Anne Robb
Description of Garden:
This magical, romantic garden surrounds what is said to be the most perfect example of a small classic mediaeval manor. Many garden rooms, each a garden in itself, are set off the 200yd yew walk. In addition there is a bog garden with azaleas and drifts of primuli, fine trees, a cottage garden, courtyards, and a river walk through 5 acres of young specimen trees. A plantsman's paradise of 12 acres.





History: 
The gardens at Cothay were laid out in the 1920's by Colonel Reginald Cooper. Reggie Cooper was Harold Nicholson's (Sissinghurst) oldest friend. They were at school together, in the Diplomatic Corps, and were friends of Laurence Johnson (Hidcote), and Lutyens. This band of gardeners exchanged ideas and in Harold Nicholson's diaries there is mention that "Reggie came to stay and advised me on the length of the bowling green". It is interesting that Cothay was laid out in the 1920's and Sissinghurst in 1932. A garden writer recently described Cothay as the Sissinghurst of the West Country.

In 1993 the present owners, Alastair & Mary-Anne Robb found the gardens in need of total restoration. The gardens were gutted but the original Reggie Cooper structure was retained. The yew hedges were restored and the garden rooms, off the 200yd yew walk, have all been re-designed. New gardens have been created including a bog garden in the Oxbow, formed when Reggie Cooper moved the River Tone to save his favourite Pine trees from erosion. An Arboretum has been planted, a small lake dug, a mound created, and a wild flower meadow sown. The restoration, which is on-going, is now in its fourteenth year.

Local Inns: 
The Globe, Appley

Accomodation: 
Greenham Hall, Thorne Manor, Thorne St. Margaret

Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Wellington, Somerset