Helmingham Hall in Suffolk has been named the winner of the 2017 Historic Houses Association Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie’s and judged by HHA Friends.
The award has been presented annually since 1984 and is designed to recognise the importance of some of the country’s most notable gardens, with horticultural and public appeal.
About Helmingham Hall and its gardens
Helmingham’s Grade I listed gardens are owned by the Tollemanche family, who have lived in the house since its construction in 1490. The house is currently inhabited by Timothy and his wife Xa.
Groups that wish to visit the gardens will be treated upon arrival to the view of an unchanged early Tudor house, surrounded by a moat with a drawbridge that is still lifted every evening.
To view the gardens, guests must firstly reach a parterre and hybrid musk garden, along a wide grass causeway lined up with large yew domes. Beyond the parterre, there is also a rose garden planted in 1965, which contains hybrid musk roses edged with Hidcote lavender.
Furthermore, visitors can see a working walled kitchen garden, complete with sweet peas, runner beans and gourds, surrounded by double herbaceous borders in cruciform style. Arched tunnels have been added to the vegetable plots, creating new walks and vistas, while two bridges lead to an apple walk and wild flower garden.
Visitors wishing to explore the latter will be treated to wildflowers abound with primroses, cowslips and marsh orchids.
The borders at Helmingham consist of shrub, topiary, grass and coloured-theme flowers, while in recent years, a knot and herb Garden was also added.
Details for visitors
Helmingham Hall gardens are open to the public from 1st May until 17th September from 12pm until 5pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
The hall also hosts a range of special events.
For further information, you can visit www.helmingham.com.
Pictured: Helmingham Hall and Gardens. (Photo credit: VisitEngland and Helmingham Hall and Gardens)
