Scotney Castle
The first garden we saw outside of London was at Scotney Castle. Our friends John and Pauline drove us there after picking us up at the train station.
Scotney Castle includes a one acre walled garden and a 19 acre park built around an old fortified manor house (Old Scotney Castle) and a pond.
I’ve read that the larger garden is influenced by the Picturesque style, but I have to confess I’m not sure exactly what that is. Apparently it has to do with a romantic view of natural beauty and the incorporation of views that would be suitable for a picture. Maybe one of you can provide a clearer definition.
Many of the largest trees were destroyed in a storm some years ago, but many lovely old trees can still be seen.
A garden built around a pond is a lovely thing. I think this is pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata).
I was jealous of the naturalized Cyclamen blooming in the woodland area.
The walled garden, for me, was the best part. There’s something about all that luscious color and (almost) unrestrained botanical life force contrasting with solemn old stone and brick, like a vivacious child with a stern but kind-hearted grandfather.
Torch lilies don’t usually appeal to me but I liked these yellow ones.
Are these just giant mutant Fuschias?
I should definitely say something at this point about John and Pauline. Judy was high school pals with Pauline, who along with her husband John were incredibly hospitable – putting us up in their rambling 16th Century home, feeding us, and driving us all over the countryside. (We didn’t even know about Scotney Castle until they took us there.) This was a very good thing, as I found the roads in rural England to be fairly terrifying, but more on that later.
This was all the more remarkable as their son George, a star rugby player, was going to depart in a few days to begin his studies at University. So we owe them a big debt of gratitude.
Still to come regarding our time in the UK: RHS Wisley, Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, and English breakfasts.
gardeninacity 
I’m bookmarking all these great England posts for when we make our August itinerary!
I cannot wait to see all the gorgeous gardens over there! đŸ™‚
You will have a great time. This one is not as well known as Sissinghurst so the crowds are not as overwhelming.
What a laundry list of gardens to come as that wasn’t enough, Jason. But post begged how Judy had a high school pal who ended up in a 16th century manor. From sheerly a gardener’s perspective, Judy sure pick ’em. (BTW goes without saying you must be able to pick ’em too. Be sure to tell her that Aussie Patrick told you so, old chap — moniker seems seems so bloody appropriate)
Pauline lived in the US for most of the time she was growing up. And the 16th Century house is not fancy.
Beautiful garden – LOVE the second photo with the reflections.
Yeah, I really liked that one also.
What a beautiful place, it certainly ticks all my boxes. Loved how poetical you were in this post, it sat very well with such gorgeous images. You can’t beat reflections in water.xxx
I noticed that all these historic gardens are managed by a private organization, the National Trust.
I’m reasonably sure that Fuchsia is Fuchsia magellanica, a hardy Fuchsia that can get pretty big in the ground. They grow well here in the PNW, and I’m sure if you come to the Fling in Portland this year you’ll see quite a few more. I loved looking at your photos of the walled castle garden.
It’s always funny to see plants your used to as little annuals turn out looking like big shrubs.
Thank you for showing all these photos. It have seen illustrations of Scotney Castle in many gardening books but they seem to always show the very same view. It is interesting to have a more rounded approach and a look at other parts of the garden.
There was also a vegetable garden but I didn’t include any of those pictures.
What a nice spot, I’m looking forward to more warm weather posts to carry us through the winter.
The reflections are great, what’s the big house towards the left? Is the castle just kind of a little outbuilding for the main home? Must be nice đŸ™‚
The big house is the manor house built in the 1830s. They did use the old castle for putting up various people, but I’m guessing it wasn’t that comfortable.
I adore walled gardens! And what a charming setting for this one too… all those beautiful stone structures with vines and climbers. I bet that wisteria is a picture when flowering. And the rhododendrons too. Wonderful! đŸ˜€
Yes, I had the same thought about the wisteria. I’m sure you can google images of Scotney Castle with the wisteria and rhododendrons in bloom.
Another garden I am putting on my list to visit, I love the reflection into the lake. The National Trust does wonderful work here and is a charity that looks after many of the important homes, gardens and coastlines, that are too expensive to run privately. I will try to help with The Picturesque style, which simply put was a style of garden design, influenced by intellectuals of the time – Prior to Picturesque was the English Landscape movement of the previous 80 years where “tame and gentle” natural landscapes were designed and built, huge parklands were artificially created and ran straight up to the walls of English Stately homes, these gardens were designed to look as if they were completely natural – gentle hills, small woodlands and lakes, but were artificial and planned, so were not exciting vistas. The Picturesque style of garden design sort to make these vistas less bland and more romantically wild or at least more interesting. The English Landscape movement before Picturesque was a reaction to the symetrical formality of the previous centuries Renaissance gardens, I do not know if I just made that any clearer! but hope that helps.
Thank you, I think that expresses it much more clearly. There was more drama to this landscape, a lot more verticality, though I didn’t include the pictures that showed this most clearly.
I never heard of this castle either. I think this style was part of the Romanticism era where the view was what you might see painted on canvas, which this castle really conveys with the pond up to the foundation. It is like the building floats which in itself has romantic sensibilities. I really like this place and you were so fortunate to have visited.
Yes, you’re right it was connected to the Romantic cultural currents that came to the fore at the end of the 18th and early 19th Centuries. And certainly the castle as if floating on the water conveys that very well. Although this castle was built early on as a real fortified manor and not as a folly or ornament.
Jason, what a totally delightful little castle and charming gardens! Did you get to see inside? How lovely to have friends to take you to the not-as-frequently-seen spots! The pix are are great, esp. the reflection in the pond.
No, we didn’t look inside. There was actually a manor house where the owners lived after the 1830s. We were very lucky to have people taking us around.
I like walled gardens too and I like what looks like wisteria over the archway.
I wonder what it takes to naturalize cyclamen. I’ve heard of hardy cyclamen that can take below zero cold with a good snow cover, but I’ve also heard the same about “hardy mums.”
Whatever headaches it took to get there, it would be worth it.
The winters there are so much milder, and I think that’s a big help to the cyclamen.
You’re right, that purple flowering water plant is pickerelweed! A beautiful garden. Love the shot with the reflection in the pond. It’s wonderful.
So glad you like it.
Jason, it’s been a while since I’ve visited here, but what a treat to see all these lovely blooms on a cold and snow-covered day! I especially love the informal, natural-looking plantings against the old and crumbling stone. I was in London 10 years ago for only a couple days, but my dream is to one day visit the English countryside. You’ve made me want to go even more. Looking forward to future posts on your trip!
Hi Rose, thanks for visiting again. We’re very glad we did make this trip, I only wish we could spend more time travelling around the world visiting beautiful gardens.
I like your definition of picturesque style. The castle and its spectacular garden setting is my vision of paradise. I think I could get lost there and never want to be found!
We couldn’t get lost there because there were so many more gardens we wanted to see!
Such a beautiful garden! You and Judy see so many fabulous places and it’s so kind that you share them with us!
Just returning the favors done by so many others!
so beautifull…
Thank you.
Julie’s explanation of the picturesque is excellent but yours was actually pretty accurate. It was all about creating points of interest as an artist would do in a painting. I haven’t been to Scotney for years, we couldn’t fit it into our itinerary last September. I’m really enjoying your English posts.
We were very lucky that our friends suggested we go there, because we were unaware of its existence.
We first went to Scotney about 5 years ago. I was indeed enchanting. The day we went it was pouring down with rain but it did nothing to stop us walking around the garden, it was beautiful and one I would go back to again. The newer house was fascinating as well, as the previous lady owner had not long died. So in her room was all her modern day belongings with a television and electric heater, all looking out of place in such an old house. We tend to forget that some of these houses were lived in until quite recently and some are still lived in .
We didn’t go inside either of the houses, if we ever get back there we’ll make time to do so. There is a lot to see.
How blessed you both are to have friends like this! Such a once in a lifetime experience to view these amazing gardens! I am just sitting here with my jaw on the table looking at those spaces…and yes the yellow blooms on those torch lilies are just incredible! Well I should say that the whole garden paired with the stone is just incredible! Inspiring beyond words!!! Thank you for sharing this one as I have no idea when I will ever be able to travel abroad and view these for myself!! Nicole
You’re welcome. Maybe travel will be a possibility when your beans are young adults, that’s really when Judy and I started.
Oh my dream is to visit many of these English gardens….stunning!!
I want to go!! I’ve never heard of this castle but am putting it on my list of places I want to go. My garden designs are always centered around an “English garden meets American prairie” philosophy. I just love the lushness of unrestrained botanical exuberance. What a treat!
I am such a sucker for those old English houses/castles/whatevers. If it weren’t for the horrible gray skies and constant rain I would want to live there, although I have a feeling that the reality would not live up to the fantasy. It rarely does.