Highnam Court is open when there are special events, like the NGS, and recently there was a Rare Plant Fair at Highnam Court, so I was keen to go along, never having visited Highnam Court. I used to drive through the village of Highnam when visiting my mother in law in Ross-on-Wye, so turned off the main road into the village, but realised my mistake when there weren't any Plant Fair signs. Looking at Google maps I found out I could still get there by turning left down Two Mile Road, turning left at the main road and amazingly taking another left turn at the next roundabout.
Here's a bit about Highnam Court form their website:
'Highnam Court was built in 1658 after the original house was seriously damaged in the Civil War. It is one of the few houses built during the Commonwealth period. The design of the houses is linked to Ernest Carter who was a pupil of Inigo Jones.
The Highnam Estate was bought in 1838 by Thomas Gambier Parry, who was an accomplished artist, musician and art collector. This talented painter is also responsible for the magnificent frescoes in Highnam Church. He started to layout his garden in 1840, and by 1874 it rivalled any in the UK. Unfortunately since the turn of the last century almost nothing had been done in the gardens. Consequently when the process of restoration started in 1994 the gardens were totally overgrown.
During the last 25 years, since Roger Head has been the owner, the gardens have been totally and lovingly restored to their former glory, with many new additions being made to compliment and enhance the original design.'
On the way into the gardens where the fair was, people were walking past this statue, stopping to get a better look and giggling. He's a bit of a stereotypical cave man with long hair and a large head
Looking at the website, I found this information about the statue, it helps understand why the statue looks as it does. It never occurred to me that the proportions of a statue would depend on where it was being viewed from.
'The old conservatory originally stood here and the alcove housed one of the specimen plants. The statue which now stands in this spot is a 17th century effigy depicting Oliver Cromwell as Hercules in his lion skin robe. It originally stood in the niche above the library door at the front of the house and this explains his rather odd proportions. If you lie at his feet and look up at him he looks more normal, as he was designed to be viewed from below. This fine statue of Oliver Cromwell was then an embarrassment, so it spent the next 200 years in the stables until it was repositioned in the alcove in the East Garden'
We started off by walking round the plantfair and deciding on purchases, and then went for lunch, but had left it a bit late for savory food, sometimes a cream tea for lunch is fine.
After lunch we walked round the gardens, the hydrangeas we lovely
Below there's a crocodile behind the day lily!
A little way from the house there were some newly created or refurbished beds which looked lovely.
There were 2 colours of Buddleia, a deep purple and a deep red, both glorious and covered in butterflies
Here's an attempt at a close up of a Peacock butterfly
The Rudbeckias were gorgeous
As were the Echinops
There were fantastic grasses and delphiniums
The wild flower meadows were also glorious
The wisteria covered bridge must look glorious earlier in the year
There are lots of wood sculptures in the grounds, like this pig with piglets
and bird of prey carved into a branch
Below an otter with a fish carved into a felled tree
This felled tree carved into a seat with fish flying out from it
A sculpture in the rose garden with the house in the background
and here's a view of the house
Another wooden sculpture, this time four horses
I'm sorry we didn't go and look a the local church, but hopefully that can be seen on another visit. On the way out, I stopped to take a photo of these magnificent swans.
Great day out
Here's a bit about Highnam Court form their website:
'Highnam Court was built in 1658 after the original house was seriously damaged in the Civil War. It is one of the few houses built during the Commonwealth period. The design of the houses is linked to Ernest Carter who was a pupil of Inigo Jones.
The Highnam Estate was bought in 1838 by Thomas Gambier Parry, who was an accomplished artist, musician and art collector. This talented painter is also responsible for the magnificent frescoes in Highnam Church. He started to layout his garden in 1840, and by 1874 it rivalled any in the UK. Unfortunately since the turn of the last century almost nothing had been done in the gardens. Consequently when the process of restoration started in 1994 the gardens were totally overgrown.
During the last 25 years, since Roger Head has been the owner, the gardens have been totally and lovingly restored to their former glory, with many new additions being made to compliment and enhance the original design.'
On the way into the gardens where the fair was, people were walking past this statue, stopping to get a better look and giggling. He's a bit of a stereotypical cave man with long hair and a large head
'The old conservatory originally stood here and the alcove housed one of the specimen plants. The statue which now stands in this spot is a 17th century effigy depicting Oliver Cromwell as Hercules in his lion skin robe. It originally stood in the niche above the library door at the front of the house and this explains his rather odd proportions. If you lie at his feet and look up at him he looks more normal, as he was designed to be viewed from below. This fine statue of Oliver Cromwell was then an embarrassment, so it spent the next 200 years in the stables until it was repositioned in the alcove in the East Garden'
We started off by walking round the plantfair and deciding on purchases, and then went for lunch, but had left it a bit late for savory food, sometimes a cream tea for lunch is fine.
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