Mottisfont Abbey is on the banks of the River Test, and lies on the old Norman road between Winchester and Salisbury, both very old English towns with a long history. The Abbey was powerful in its day, but it is for the garden that Mottisfont is principally known today.
In the 19th century the garden at Mottisfont Abbey was typical of the period with sweeping lawns and stands of trees, much in the Capability Brown style. The garden as we see it is the result of the work of several well-known garden designers from the. Norah Lindsay designed the parterre in the south front of the house. This flower filled knot garden remains today.
One of the 20th centuries foremost landscape architects, Geoffrey Jellicoe, designed a walk to a yew octagon, with an avenue of limes leading away from it above the croquet lawn. Later a circle of beech was planted to replace another that was dying.
In 1971, the feature for which Mottisfont is so famous today, the kitchen garden was developed as a garden to hold a collection of heritage roses, many old French roses, that had been in the collection of rosarian Graham Stuart Thomas, the National trust's gardens Consultant. Stuart Thomas planned and laid out the roses garden, using a formal scheme and incorporating many perennials and climbers to extend the flowering season. Perennials spilling over onto gravel paths, the sweeping plantings of of lavender, stachys and nepeta soften the formality of the design.
If you are a fan of roses, this collection is a must, as it includes many roses so old that they are pre-historic and many that the empress Josephine grew in her famous garden at Malmaison in France. As the roses are predominantly older varieties, visit in June for the best display. Roses are on sale outside the garden, unfortunately for New Zealanders, only to be sighed over!
The grounds have a wonderful collection of trees - oaks, chestnuts beech, hornbeam and more. There is a huge plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia) thought to be the largest in the United Kingdom, covering 1,500 m2.
This garden is a must - an example of classic English garden design, a powerful sense of history, formal elements and a superb park. Visit it if you can.
To Visit: See Mottisfont Abbey in our Gardens Open Pages
Contact Tel +44 1794 340757; Fax +44 1794 341492
Geoffrey Jellicoe's lime avenue, leading to a yew enclosure
The famous Rose Garden, developed from the kitchen garden
The Rose Garden has a formal design
R. 'Raubritter' falls over the edge of the central pool
Perennials are attractive over a long season
The roses peak display is in June
A Brief History Mottisfont Abbey has a long history. It was in the Doomsday book of 1086, when it belonged to William the Conqueror. At the end of the 12th century it become a priory, and remained one until it was dissolved in 1536 following the Reformation under Henry VIII. It was apparently not in good repair at this time and underwent extensive remodelling. The 18th century saw further remodelling.
The house and grounds became part of the National Trust in 1957 with the then owner, Mrs Russell, living there until 1972.
The information here is believed to be correct but changes do occur. There may be closures and changes to times of opening. Entrance fees may vary without notice. bestgardening.com cannot take any responsibility for any errors, changes or omissions. Visitors travelling a distance to visit a garden are advised to check opening times with the owners before setting out.
