Gardens-Guide.com is the premiere open gardens directory in Britain today.
Please check with garden owners or their website to confirm current dates open 3rd June 2011 - Gala Evening by invitation only - Corps of REME will beat Retreat on lawn. 4th - 5th June; 10am - 6pm www.westwoodhaygardenshow.co.uk
Plant Finders Fair and Garden Show
West Woodhay has one of the most breathtaking and beautiful gardens. The large expanse of wide open striped lawns reach down to three enchanting lakes that each flow from their own waterfalls.
The Rose Gardens incorporate statues and lead on to an almost secret path running through the high top trees with their diverse wildlife.
The walled Kitchen Garden boasts everything from leeks and tomatoes, strawberries and loganberries, to some unusual shrubs and flowering plants. There are dovecotes that are home to many white doves and some extraordinary looking chickens that live happily in their most generous surroundings.
West Woodhay House was built in 1635 by Sir Benjamin Rudyard, poet and writer, lawyer and Member of Parliament. The Rudyards (after whom Kipling was named) came from Staffordshire. Edward Carter, Inigo Jones' deputy for the repair of Old St. Paul's Cathedral, has been credited as the architect of the house but undoubtedly his mentor had knowledge of the work being undertaken.
The house was sold by the Rudyard family in 1710 to William Sloper, who rebuilt the parish church only a few yards to the south east of the house, thought to be designed bv Vanbrugh. In 1880, the beautiful fau008dade of the house came close to destruction when purchased by William Cole, who added a huge additional wing with large gables on all fau008dades. In 1883, the church was replaced with the very pretty Gothic one built 300 yards to the east of the house. The remains of the old church can still be seen today in the gardens.
Henry Henderson, brother of the 1st Lord Faringdon purchased the house in 1920. Johnny Henderson carried out a superb transfiguration of the house in 1947, and returned it to its original 17th century size and shape and created the garden. His son, Harry, and his wife Sarah moved into the house in 1995 and have since made significant improvements to the garden.