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Garden Owners,
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Garden Name: Kingston Maurward Gardens
Last Modified: 14/01/2010
Garden ID: 0309

pic: 0309_Kingston.jpg

Owner: Kingston Maurward College
Address:
Kingston Maurward
Dorchester

Postcode: DT2 8PY
County: Dorset

tel: 01305-215003
fax: 01305 215001
website: www.kmc.ac.uk
email: ginny.rolls {at} kmc.ac.uk/gardens

Features: 
Ornamental Lake, Tree Trails, Nature Trail, Animal Park.

English Heritage Grade:
II

Opening Times:
5th Jan - 22nd Dec; Every day; 10am - 5.30pm/dusk

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
Mid-May - Oct

To see: 
Penstemons and Salvias.

National Collection: 
Penstemons and Salvias.

National Garden Scheme days: 
Comments: Contribution made annually.

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: 
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £5; Over 60's £4.50; Child £3; Group (10 or more) £4.50 pp; Group guided tour £6 (booked in advance)
Family Day Ticket £15.50; Season Ticket Single £17, Double £30; Season ticket for Family £40.

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: Yes

Other Facilities:
Animal Park and Children's Play area.
Spring Lambing weekends in March, Open Day in June, see owners' website for details of this and many other events.


Designer: Sir Cecil and Lady Hanbury
Description of Garden:
The parkland and pleasure gardens were originally laid out in the "Jardin Anglais" style popularised by 'Capability' Brown. Simplicity was the hallmark of the gardens, which consisted of rolling turf, carefully placed groups of trees, a lake and a lakeside temple. These and the lovely formal gardens have been carefully and sympathetically restored using 1930s photographs retaining the best features, but also introducing new ones. They now consist of a matrix of small gardens each with its own theme, tree trails, lakeside walks and a delightful walled garden.

The gardens were formally opened in 1991 and have since undergone an extensive programme of new plantings rich in interest and variety. New plantings and features are added annually.

The Animal Park is a firm favourite with children and home to an interesting collection of animals, some of which they can help feed. There is a large picnic and play area.


History: 
Kingston Maurward House was built in 1720 for George Pitt in the classic Palladian style that so characterised the period. It was designed by Thomas Archer and John James. The original gardens date from that period also. The 35 acre formal gardens were created between 1915 and 1922 within the framework of the existing parkland setting in the Arts and Crafts style of the Edwardian period. These gardens consist of a series of garden rooms designed by Sir Cecil and Lady Hanbury, a well known horticultural family, who also owned the gardens at La Mortola in Italy and who had generously endowed Wisley Gardens to the Royal Horticultural Society..

Local Inns: 
The Black Dog, West Knighton

Accomodation: 
Birkin House Hotel, Kingston Maurward

Restaurants: 
Yarlbury Cottage, Lower Bockhampton

Village/Town/Sightseeing: