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Gravetye Manor: Resurgence in Sussex

By Alice, on July 11th, 2011
Once home to the doyen of 19th century English gardening, William Robinson’s historic Gravetye Manor is enjoying new life as a luxe country hotel and celebrated restaurant, just as the acclaimed gardens are regaining their rightful role.

Gravetye Manor Walkway to Bench © Alice Joyce

Having left his post at Great Dixter, Gravetye’s head gardener Tom Coward is managing the restoration of the property’s established gardenscape, while promising to add contemporary panache to planting beds, borders, and bucolic landscape.

Gravetye Foxtail lilies Eremurus       © Alice Joyce

During my late-spring visit, the gardens looked fetching. Following along pathways of York stone with its aged patina, I meandered through the formal flower garden where the soft colors of foxtail lily played off bright lupins, and vividly marked foxglove blooms towered over masses of geraniums, columbines and brilliant red poppies.

Stone Bench  © Alice Joyce

Gravetye Lupines © Alice Joyce

Gravetye Manor New Pergola Wisteria Geraniums © Alice Joyce

To tour the gardens, you’ll need to make a reservation to have a meal in the intimate, oak-panelled Gravetye Manor Restaurant presided over by Chef  Rupert Gleadow, or book a stay at the hotel.

A glimpse of the elegant lunch entrées:

Assiette of seasonal & garden vegetables, truffle cream & baby rocket.

Below: Fillet of Southcoast Grey Mullet, Fricassee of asparagus and morels, fondant potatoes and Madeira jus.

Gravetye Luncheon © Alice Joyce

Gravetye would surely be a wonderful place to stop for their renowned .. Afternoon Tea.

Gravetye Manor Wild Garden  © Alice Joyce

Experiencing the gardens’ distinctive spaces, I moved from the sublime symmetry of the Flower Garden to stroll amid the Azalea Bank on the way to The Long Lawn. Going forward to the renowned Wild Garden Robinson created a century ago, I came upon a landscape that to this day remains a lyrical vision of winding paths through wildflower meadow to pond, as the eyes coming to rest on a perimeter of trees.

William Robinson – a Vintage Photograph

Robinson continued to live at Gravetye into his nineties. Even after he began using a wheelchair, Robinson could look out from the shelter of his garden room, surrounded by beauty.

Gravetye Wm. Robinson’s Garden Room  © Alice Joyce

One of the well-known landscape elements in William Robinson’s design of Gravetye, the garden’s long pergola has been reborn; befitting a lush Wisteria display. [See photo pictured above]

Gravetye Decorative Ironwork © Alice Joyce

Door opening onto the Gravetye garden…..

England, Historic Gardens, Hotels & Inns   , ,  

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