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Garden Owners,
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Regards,
Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
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Garden Name: Eastleach House
Last Modified: 25/01/2010
Garden ID: 0518

pic: 0518_Eastleach.jpg

Owner: Mrs. David Richards
Address:
Eastleach Martin
Cirencester

Postcode: GL7 3NW
County: Gloucestershire

tel: 
fax: 
website: www.eastleachhouse.com
email: garden {at} eastleachhouse.com

Features: 
Good views, lime avenue, parkland, arboretum, wildflowers, rill garden, woodland pond. Topiary, knots, herb garden and yew & box hedges.

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
By prior appointment for groups of not less than 10.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
May - Oct

To see: 
Irises, Paeonies, rambling roses, shrub roses, herbaceous borders.

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: For groups of 10 or more 

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Charges for Group Visits at other times £10 per adult with 15 min. introductory talk (10 people group minimum)
1 1/2 hour guided tour by owner for min. 10 people @£12pp
Gardening/Horticultural Club tours entrance £8 per adult with 15-minute introductory talk.

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

Other Facilities:
Limited access for disabled due to gravel paths. Parking limited. Lunch and teas etc. at pub in village.


Designer: Stephanie Richards
Description of Garden:
Created over the past twenty years or more, the garden at Eastleach has been transformed by Stephanie Richards from a neglected wilderness into a traditional English country garden. Standing at the top of the hill, the house overlooks a long avenue of lime trees southwards to the distant hills and westwards over the valley of the River Leach.

Designed to follow the natural contours of the land, the garden presents different and contrasting aspects, from the smooth lawns, to the avenue, parkland and arboretum. The main border, situated below a flight of stone steps, is visible from the house so is intended to display shrubs of interest throughout the year, coloured all shades of green and gold with silver and grey highlights.

On the west side of the house, the rill garden features three large borders in rainbow colours designed to catch the eye from spring to autumn. It has a pattern of curved paths meeting at a clapper bridge spanning the water. 

The woodland pond, half hidden beneath a high wall, provides a wild contrast to the calm and formality of the walled garden with its yew hedges, roses and nepeta, shrubs and perennials. The stone terrace and a formal pond overlook two knot gardens. The terrace is backed by white roses and clematis hang from chains between wooden pillars.

The herb garden lies beyond a yew hedge and features a central bandstand covered with honeysuckle and clematis.


History: 
The house was built in 1900, designed by the architect Walter Cave, though the site is much older. It rests on a wooded hilltop with lawns to the south and west and parkland to the south. There had never been any formal garden. There were also two large rockeries, and an ancient box hedge. There are some good trees and a walled garden for fruit and vegetables.

Local Inns: 
The Victoria Inn, Eastleach

Accomodation: 
in Burford

Restaurants: 
The Swan, Southrop
The New Inn, Coln St. Aldwyns

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Cirencester
Burford