I discovered another garden not too far from here a few weeks ago. Apparently it is used as a location in ‘The English Garden’ magazine if anyone reads that. It also has a small café in a beautiful Tithe barn serving lunches and cakes, warm lemon & treacle tart anyone? So definitely worth a visit, although on this particular day I was feeling rather ill so had to sit and watch the OH devour a lovely chicken sandwich.
This post is linked with Cee’s Which Way Challenge, Jo’s Monday Walk and this week’s Travel Theme from Ailsa which is Blossom.
Probably the first thing you notice once you enter the gardens through the Cider Press, is this gorgeous Granary with the Oast Houses. I used to think Oast Houses only existed in Kent. Not so, there are quite a few in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and still plenty of hops in the fields.
I spent a fair while just photographing these gorgeous old buildings before venturing into the gardens themselves. But what a treat awaited me.
The problem was where to start? The Pigeon House Garden? The Spring Garden? What a choice.
The Spring Garden was a delight with these jewel-like anemones flowering in the sun. A crooked path leading to a sweet little summer-house with magnolia blossom overhead.
Leaving the Spring Garden behind brings you out in front of the Manor House, with pots of bright tulips outside the porch and walls festooned with budding wisteria. The Main Lawn softens the driveway which leads to the farmyard. And a barn with bells.
The Bathing Pool Garden was intriguing, especially as this leads to the Rock Pools where Fritillaria meleagris and Pulsatilla vulgaris flowered around the pool and blossom hung overhead.
Doorways and water features entice you into the Elizabethan Garden with violet-blue clematis dripping over the wall.
Next the Long Walk leads you past the Kitchen Garden, the Sunken Garden, the Pillar Garden and finally the Paddock Garden. See the blossom?
With plants and pots and watering-cans to catch the eye.
The path leads down to the Dingle, the furthest area of this lovely garden and where the Spring and the Grotto can be found. A very peaceful place to stop and rest and absorb the beauty of nature.
Lots of little paths to wander along.

And a wider one which leads to the Grotto. But watch your step!

Finally on the way back to the exit there are the Iris Walk and the Greenhouses which I can never resist having a nosey in. The irises weren’t in flower, so another visit is required, very soon. But I did find some mistletoe growing on a fruit tree.
Before you leave, have a browse around the plant sales which is behind the Cider Press and where you’ll find the Rill and a pair of Welsh Dragons 🙂
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire. It has a very long history as there has been a dwelling on this site since 660. The ‘Bury’ is a Saxon word for Court House or Mansion House and was given the status of a Manor in the reign of Edward III.
LOVE it!! That barn with the bells is gorgeous. Oh and I’m drooling thinking about that warm lemon & treacle tart!!!
Having read through the comments all my questions are answered, Jude. This is a wonderful series of spaces, isn’t it? Thank you for sharing.
Are you glued to the Chelsea coverage this week? I’ve got one eye on it right now. Have you been? I always wanted to, though I suspect you see more on TV. The smells won’t be the same though 🙂
23C too warm for you? You must be an English rose 🙂 There was a refreshing breeze up on the Moors.
It is a lovely garden Jo – we went back on Saturday so I could photograph the wisteria and peonies. So different from April’s visit – everything had just exploded into colour!
I always watch Chelsea flower show, but have never been. The crowds put me off, I’d hate not being able to see the gardens close-up so I think it is better on TV. Same with Wimbledon!
And yes I am very fair and had reddish hair (once) so burn easily, and I hate humidity! 20-23C is fine for me. No hotter unless I am beside a swimming pool thank you 😉
What a beautiful walk Jude, thank you, but sorry you weren’t feeling too well this day…still, the glorious weather must have helped lift your spirits. Herefordshire really is such a wonderful part of this isle of ours isn’t it? As always, love all your photos… 🙂 Love the ‘do not walk too close to the edge’…. made me smile 😉
Haha, this made me smile too, not QUITE the Grand Canyon! Maybe they just don’t want you to harm the bog plants!!
That’s what I thought!!!
I really enjoyed this walk! I love Herefordshire, and have a particular fondness for it because it is the first county I visited in England when I visited from Scotland to go strawberry picking as a student.
We get loads of fruit and veg from Herefordshire — at the moment it is asparagus which I love!