The Garden House

About the garden

This glorious garden nestles in a quiet valley on the fringe of Dartmoor National Park. It’s development began in the mid-1940s when Lionel Fortescue, the son of one of Cornwall’s Newlyn painters, started transforming the two-acre walled garden of his new home. He then turned his attention to the surrounding fields and created an inspiring, colourful garden that opened to the public over 62 years ago. Lionel’s inspirational approach was characterised by a meticulous attention to detail and colour, and zero tolerance for plants that were not performing well. This attention to detail continues today.

There are five terraces in the walled garden. They include formally planted areas such as a tennis court, a camellia walk and a lower terrace of stunning long borders. The lower terrace snakes around medieval ruins, including a thatched barn and stone tower.​ In late spirng, the pastoral view through the Cottage Garden toward the church tower of neighbouring Buckland Monachorum has become an iconic shot for photographers.