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From 1157-1539 the Augustinian canons lived and gardened in this hidden paradise. In the 18thC woodland gardens were created on either side of the Abbey with woodland walks leading to walled gardens, built to be sheltered from the worst of the Atlantic gales. In the late 19th/early 20thC Gertrude Jekyll was a frequent guest at the Abbey and was instrumental in helping Marion, Lady Stucley, create the intimate paths and small terraces of the Baronet’s Bog Garden, Victorian Fernery and Camellia Garden.

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914 the garden staff of 15 all but disappeared and the gardens and grounds became overgrown and virtually lost until the 1950s when Sir Dennis and Lady Stucley, both keen and knowledgeable gardeners, with a skeleton staff, started to clear some of the Woodland Gardens and part of the Walled Gardens. They planted much of the large collection of camellias, hydrangeas and eucryphias; they cleared large areas of bamboo and replanted many rhododendrons and azaleas which were removed from Moreton House at Bideford, another Stucley home, now Grenville College. These all thrive today.

In 1996 on the death of Sheila, Lady Stucley the present owners, Sir Hugh and Lady Stucley started a programme of more clearing and replanting. Huge areas of bramble and thick undergrowth were cleared and the Victorian Fernery, lost since 1914 reemerged almost unscathed from almost a century of neglect. Many small Jekyll paths and terraces have also been uncovered and are now being replanted. The Walled Gardens had become neglected but in 1997 work started to remove the perennial weeds and in 1998 they were opened as an ongoing project. Now they are flourishing again and visitors will see many exciting new plantings.

The woodland gardens are full of spring colour with camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and many bulbs all bursting into colour from Christmas onwards in this mild climate. Following these many beautiful hydrangeas and eucryphias start flowering in July, the hydrangeas flowering until the gardens close. 

The winding paths in the Baronet’s Bog Garden, only recently uncovered from nearly a century of neglect, lead the visitor to huge camellias, Cornish Red rhododendrons, massive gunnera, hostas, primulas, astilbe, zantedeschia(arum lilies), hydrangeas and the Victorian Fernery. A very old acer, twisted and knarled from a century’s growth of ivy and bramble hiding it, stands at the entrance to the Fernery. 

The ‘Ladies Walk’ through woodland carpeted with wildflowers in spring, leads visitors to the four secret 18th C Walled Gardens. Now being replanted, they contain vegetables and fruit for the house and for sale, many tender and rare plants, summer perennials and shrubs. Echium pininana, growing to 15ft in a good year, flourishes here. It had lain dormant for over ten years until the ground was worked again in 1997! Two large glasshouses were lost in some particularly violent Atlantic gales many years ago but three remain containing tomatoes, geraniums and tender plants for the visitor to see. We would hope one day to rebuild at least one of the larger ones.

The Walk to the Sea

For 2010 our newly discovered circular walk to the beach and Gazebo will be open for visitors to enjoy. A small path created in the 19th century by Sir Lewis Stucley, subsequently overgrown since the First World War, has recently been restored. This exciting discovery leads visitors through woodland to the Gazebo offering stunning views of the Atlantic.

Visitors are also able to reach the wild Atlantic Cove and the newly restored Gazebo via our established woodland walk. This popular walk leads to some of the most spectacular cliff scenery in the British Isles. In spring it is carpeted in bluebells, primroses and many wildflowers. The cliff flowers in April, May and June are beautiful and diverse; they were the subject of ‘BBC Gardeners World’ introduced by Dan Pearson in 1999.

During the autumn 2005 the cottage at Blackpool Mill and the surrounding area was used as a location for Rosamunde Pilcher's 'The Shell Seekers' starring Vanessa Redgrave, Maximillian Schell, Maisie Dimbleby and Alastair Mackenzie. In 2007 it was the stunning location for Andrew Davies's adaptation for the BBC of Sense and Sensibility.

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