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Garden Owners,
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Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
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Garden Name: Mount Ephraim Gardens
Last Modified: 09/02/2010
Garden ID: 0213

pic: 0213_mountephr.jpg

Owner: Mrs. M.N. Dawes and Mr. & Mrs. E.S. Dawes
Address:
Hernhill
Faversham

Postcode: ME13 9TX
County: Kent

tel: 01227-751496
fax: 
website: www.mountephraimgardens.co.uk
email: postmaster {at} mountephraim.plus.com

Features: 
Hardy Plants Society - April 19th
Pat - A - Lamb - May 3rd & 4th
Rolls Royce Club - June 7th
Pantaloons Theatre Company - 30th & 31st Aug
Apple Sunday - 13th Sept

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
Easter Sun - end Sept; Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun ; 12 noon - last entry 5pm.
BH weekends 11am - last entry 5pm

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
April, May, June

To see: 
Daffodils & other bulbs
Blossom, Rhododendrons
herbaceous border and roses

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 26th Apr & 27th Sept; 11am - 5pm

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: Yes but only for groups by appointment

Admission Prices:
Adult £4.50; Child £2.50; Groups £4 pp; Wheelchair users £1; Season £12, Family Season; £30

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
New Restaurant opened in 2007. Some areas difficult for the disabled to access.


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
The nine acres of gardens are remarkable for their variety, and against a backdrop of trees of outstanding shapes and contrasts, they include an unusual topiary, water garden and arboretum, all set in the heart of a progressive fruit farm. Magnificent views extend over the Swale and Thames estuary, and the gardens are surrounded by woodland parks and orchards. Rose terraces enclosed by yew hedges slope down to a lake with a woodland area as a backdrop. Planting throughout is intensive giving colour and interest throughout the year. The Japanese rock garden, ornamented with stone huterns and based on a series of pools, follows an alternative gently winding route.

These privately owned and maintained gardens show a wonderful contrast between the formal and informal. The gardens offer a fresh and relaxing approach for visitors.


History: 
For three hundred years Mount Ephraim has belonged to the Dawes family. The existing house was built by Edwyn (later Sir Edwyn) Dawes, who, having gone to sea as a boy, established himself as a wealthy and successful shipowner, becoming Chairman of the New Zealand Shipping Company in 1890. Around 1876, he decided to re-occupy the family home which had been let out since 1820. The elegant little house was riddled with dry rot and had to be demolished. It was replaced by the present, much grander building. On his death in 1903, his eldest son Willie inherited the estate.

It was Willie Dawes who developed the garden, which was to become an absorbing and lifelong interest. When Willie died in 1920, his son Sandys was left with inadequate means to maintain the property. By the time that Sandys Dawes died in 1949 the garden was virtually derelict, the outer reaches so overgrown with weeds as to be impenetrable. In 1950 his son Bill moved into Mount Ephraim with his wife Mary and their four young children. They gradually restored the garden and after Bill retired in 1972 from the shipping company, of which he had also been chairman, he was able to devote more time to the garden. After his death in 1982, the garden was opened to the public.

Local Inns: 
Three Horseshoes or Red Lion, Hernhill
Dove, Dargate
Shipwrights Arms, Oare

Accomodation: 
The Garden Hotel, Boughton, Kent
The White Horse, Boughton

Restaurants: 
Martins Restaurant, Boughton
Garden Hotel
The White Horse

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Canterbury City
Faversham, market town