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Garden Owners,
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Garden Name: Mill Barn
Last Modified: 24/01/2011
Garden ID: 0470

pic: 0470_MillBarn.jpg

Owner: Dr. C.J. Mortimer
Address:
Goose Foot Close
Salmesbury Bottoms
Preston
Postcode: PR5 0SS
County: Lancashire

tel: 01254-853300
fax: 
website: 
email: 

Features: 


English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
Sats, Suns 11, 12, 25, 26 June (1-5).
Or by appointment.


Best Times of Year to Visit: 


To see: 


National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: Sats, Suns 11, 12, 25, 26 June (1-5).

Parties / Coaches: No 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: Groups by appointment especially in May, June and July 

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adults £3; Children free

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

Other Facilities:
Partial access for the disabled


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
Mill Bank nestles in the valley of the River Darwen whose waters flow over a series of falls along the length of the garden. Indeed, the river is a focus of the design. Owner and dedicated gardener, Chris Mortimer, was incited by a visit to the Japanese garden at Kildare, Ireland, to create a stroll garden and the river provides a natural routing for this. 

From the front of the house, visitors will be drawn towards the old weir planted with saxifrages and other alpine plants and from there to the suspension bridge from which 'Lovelawn Point' can be reached. A stroll from here brings the explorer back to the bridge from where the pergola, pond, summerhouse and sycamore grove can be visited. 

Additionally, Susan Childs, a neighbour of Mr Mortimer, has created an extensive garden of perennials on the riverbank. This provides an interesting foil to Millbanks' six-foot cooper triffid and Temple of Alchemy - a humorous reference to the owner's scientific profession! The juxta-positioning of such features is also indicative of the diversity of this garden as a whole and the imagination and determination of its creator. 


History: 
Dr Chris Mortimer bought a very different property in 1972 from what is now Mill Barn. The house was derelict and the land littered with tin sheds, old cars and cinders dumped by the paper mill that had stood across the way. 

After years of hard labour, in which all attention was focussed upon the garden, Chris was in a position to look about for plants that could survive the often cold conditions of his valley floor home. Lighting upon hardy perennials, he created the garden as it now stands, extending it nine years ago to include an overlooking hillside. 

Local Inns: 


Accomodation: 


Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: