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Garden Name: Gants Mill & Garden
Last Modified: 13/01/2011
Garden ID: 0556

pic: 0556_Gants_Mill.jpg

Owner: Alison & Brian Shingler
Address:
Bruton


Postcode: BA10 0DB
County: Somerset

tel: 01749 812393
fax: 
website: www.gantsmill.co.uk
email: shingler {at} gantsmill.co.uk

Features: 
Working Water Mill which grinds corn and generates electricity for local use and the National Grid.

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
May - Sept; 2nd Sundays; 2pm - 5pm. Mill tours every half hour. Last tour 4pm.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
Summer

To see: 
Irises (60 varieties), roses, delphiniums, day-lilies and dahlias

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: for groups of 20+ 

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £6, includes guided tour of mill.
Adult, Garden only £4; Child £1
All tickets are season tickets
Groups (min. 20) £7.50 pp includes tour of the mill, tea and cake.

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

Other Facilities:
Conservatory
B&B
Sculptures for sale
Civil licence for garden weddings in the gazebo


Designer: Philip Brown
Description of Garden:
A three-quarter acre garden complements the famous water mill and uses the mill stream to great effect as it winds through the garden over waterfalls, through ponds and keeps the bog garden moist before cascading into the river. The colour-themed garden features more than 60 varieties of iris which are supplemented by the delphiniums in June, then climbing roses and clematis over arches and pergolas as the summer progresses. There are also good displays of spider daylilies and over 100 varieties of dahlia, some very unusual.

There is also a workaday vegetable garden and a cutting flower garden. A lovely riverside walk up to the top weir, where the leat and river divide, is also worthwhile for the mildly energetic.


History: 
The garden was designed in 1995 by Philip Brown and his plan was implemented over the next six years by the owners themselves, who did the hard landscaping and concentrated on planting summer and autumn perennials. The mill itself, whose location was mentioned in the Domesday Book, dates from 1290 and was originally built by John le Gaunt, hence its name. It was owned for four centuries by the Weston family of local landowners. Documents detailing the complete history of the mill were saved by Sophie Weston, the last of the family and reputedly the model for Sophia Western, heroine of Henry Fielding's novel "Tom Jones". 

Brian Shingler, the owner and a 6th generation miller, skillfully guides vistors round the mill mechanism and starts it up to show it in action. The working Victorian turbine which grinds the corn, is supplemented by a modern turbine which generates enough electricity for up to ten homes. An altogether fascinating experience which was show-cased by Adam Hart-Davis on television in 2004.

Local Inns: 


Accomodation: 


Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Bruton