Farringford Estate
Free RHS Member days
10am–4.30pm, Wednesday and Thursday, 1 April–25 October
About the garden
The Farringford estate is best known for its association with Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who lived there from 1853 to 1892. In May 2017, the walled garden, where Tennyson enjoyed spending time – lost in the 1970s when the area was built over following the demolition of 18 holiday cottages – was recreated. The relaxed planting scheme is based on descriptions provided in Emily Tennyson’s journal and on watercolours painted by Helen Allingham. This includes oriental poppies, poet’s laurel, varieties of Delphinium and tobacco plants, which were said to reach over 7ft in Tennyson’s time.
The walled garden also features a sundial crafted by sculptor Mary Seton Watts, the wife of the Victorian painter and family friend George Frederic Watts. A small amount of fruit and vegetables is grown in the garden, reflecting its historical use as a source of food for family meals, and a working Victorian-style greenhouse is used to cultivate new plants.
Facilities
- Dogs welcome
- Parking
- Toilets
Key features
- Herbaceous border
- Glasshouse (open to public)
- Cottage planting
- Wildlife planting and features
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.