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Garden Name: Helmingham Hall
Last Modified: 11/02/2010
Garden ID: 0295

pic: 0295_Helmingham.jpg

Owner: The Lady Tollemache
Address:
Helmingham
Stowmarket

Postcode: IP14 6EF
County: Suffolk

tel: 01473 890799
fax: 
website: www.helmingham.com
email: office {at} helmingham.com

Features: 
Tudor mansion with double moat and two main gardens. Beautiful Deer Park with Red and Fallow deer.
30th May; 10.30am - 4pm - Plant Heritage Plant Fair
25th Juky; 10.30am - 5pm - Festival of Classic & Sports Cars
7th/8th Aug; 10.30am - 5pm - Food & Drink Festival
15th Aug; 10.30am - 5pm - Helmingham celebrates Suffolk (rare breeds etc.)
19th Sept; 10.30am - 4pm - Plant Heritage Plant Fair

English Heritage Grade:
I

Opening Times:
2nd May - 19th Sept; Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sun + BH Mons 25th May & 30th Aug; 12noon - 5pm.
individuals & parties by appointment.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 


To see: 


National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: Parties of 30+ £3.75pp.

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: Wednesdays 2pm - 5pm 

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £6; Child £3. Concessions & Group bookings of 30+ £5 pp (£6pp for under 30 visitors)

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

Other Facilities:
Coach House available for hire for events and conferences.


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
It would be hard to exaggerate the effect this beautiful park, with its red deer, spectacular moated house in mellowed patterned red brick with its marvellous walled garden and rose gardens, will have on the visitor. The whole combines to give an extraordinary impression of beauty and tranquillity. It looks as if it has been like this for generations and in many ways it has, though there have been several interludes in its history, after which a major effort was required to refurbish and re-establish the house and garden, most recently from 1953 up to the present date. Two rose gardens, a parterre, a knot garden are situated on one side of the house and on the other lies a stunning walled garden with beds of vegetables fronted by a trellis of sweet peas, rambling roses and herbaceous borders on either side of the central path. 

The colour combinations in all of these are in immaculate taste and are both subtle and very beautiful.


History: 
The Tollemache family, who came over at the Norman Conquest, have lived at Helmingham since 1487 and had rebuilt the Hall by 1510. The garden moat predates the house and is probably of Saxon origin. The hybrid musk rose garden was redesigned in 1965 by Dinah, Lady Tollemache. The influence of the well-known garden designer, Lady Xa Tollemache, wife of the present owner, is apparent - the Parterre was redesigned in 1978 and a new second rose garden to the east of the house was created in 1982, together with the Knot Garden. The raising of the house's two drawbridges still takes place every evening.

Local Inns: 
Moon & Mushroom Inn, Swilland
Sorrel Horse, Barham

Accomodation: 


Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: