Alton Barnes, Alton Priors and Honeystreet.
Open Gardens Programme
Alton Barnes, Alton Priors & Honeystreet
Saturday 29 June 11.00 am. to 4.00 pm
Admission to all gardens by Garden Passport £5.00 (children free) from the Coronation Hall. Car parking at the Coronation Hall or other designated car parks in Honeystreet or Alton Priors. All gardens will be signed as "OPEN" . There will be a map on the programme.
1. The Manor, Alton Priors: A wonderful opportunity to see this renowned border, dating from the 1940’s, close up! Other features to see at the Manor include: a walled kitchen garden; formal pond, courtyards, newly planted wild flower meadow and orchard; bee hives. Extra attractions : TEAS, plant sale, artist’s studio (botanical themed cards & prints for sale).
2. Shell Cottage, Alton Priors: A medieval walled garden with orchard, vegetable garden and herbaceous borders. An expanse of grass with trimmed box and yew hedges.
3. Yew Tree Cottage, Alton Priors: A garden of 3 parts – with bees at the bottom of this cottage garden by a sarsen stone Dolman, leading to a box and yew hedged Secret garden with its wattle and daub Retreat house, Finally to fruit and vegetable gardens bordered by a large Victorian style greenhouse and overlooking fields of cows.
4. Pear Tree Cottage, Alton Priors: A cottage flower garden with productive raised vegetable beds and fruit cages. Well tended topiary and a small lawned area.
5. Field Cottage, Alton Priors: Location, Location, Location! Blink and you might miss this small spring garden dominated by a large Holm Oak with a variety of pretty flowerbeds. We offer a warm welcome and a convenient stile if you wish to take a short cut across the meadow to other gardens. (watch for the electric fence)
All Saint’s church – Alton Priors: We have 3 services annually in this ancient church set in the meadows between two of our villages.
The Chapelry of Priors is mentioned during the time of Alfred the Great. Lords of the Manor from the 13th to 17th Century at Alton Priors were the Buttons who lived at the nearby Priory.
In the churchyard is the 1,700 year old yew tree. Other points of interest at All Saints are the two walled-up doors on the North and South side, the former with a surmounting consecration cross, the scratch sundial on the tower and the eccentric position of the chancel with respect to the main body of the church.
Despite the acquisition of a paten of 1638, the past importance of the chapel, exemplified by the perpendicular tower, the twelfth-century chancel arch with pelletted frieze imposts and wide nave declined, and its former role in the rural community fell to the tiny sister church of St Mary, Alton Barnes.
St. Mary’s Alton Barnes : This Saxon church is our regular church of worship for villagers.
The long and short stone corner quoins, the impost moulding of the present Victorian chancel arch and the tall narrow nave point to the Saxon foundation, but the church has been subject to much restoration. The tie-beamed and wind braced roof is 16th century while the pulpit, balustered font and panelled gallery are Georgian.
More recent additions are the beautiful memorial panes of glass etched by both Laurence Whistler and his son Simon, the renowned glass artists, who each lived in the village for some years, have been installed in the South widow of the chancel.
6. The Old Rectory, Alton Barnes: Until the end of the 2nd World War formally laid with lawn and a cob walled garden with vegetables within box hedged partitions. In the 1960’s it fell into disrepair, but has since been restored informally, with lawns to the front and division of the back lawn into an orchard, and some remaining lengths of cob wall with additions of reclaimed bricks and sarsen stones. A woodland area comprises native broadleaf trees, and a sarsen stone circle.
7. Neates Farm, Alton Barnes: A quite large, rather untidy garden, with 2 rose and clematis pergolas; herbaceous borders in the East garden (off Brown's Lane); a new pagoda-ish fruit cage; various grassy areas, and a new wildflower patch (waiting for sunshine) in the long-grass area beside the entrance drive.
8. Maslin’s Farm, Alton Barnes: (Only open 3 p.m, – 3.30 p.m.) Michael Balston, International Landscape Designer, R.H.S. Judge for many years and 2013 Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner for his East Village Garden. Michael will welcome visitors to walk with him around his own garden, whilst he explains his ideas for the work he is doing there.
9. Lime Cottage, Alton Barnes: Small but perfectly formed cottage garden of old fashioned roses & clematis, within a formal structure of box and yew. (Access through latch gate in the field, or from main street).
10. Raymar, Alton Barnes: Memories are Made here – Pop in as you pass to view a unique collection of old photographs of the locality and hear stories from Ray Pope, born and bred in Alton Barnes and one of our oldest residents.
11. Summer Down House, Honeystreet: An easy to maintain garden, with a very old mulberry tree and wonderful views across to the white horse.
12. 2 The Square, Honeystreet: Established in 2008, this garden is composed of colourful and interesting borders of shrubs and herbaceous plants. It has been designed to provide vibrancy and variety in all seasons. Beautiful.
13. 1 The Square, Honeystreet: A mixture of lawns, herbaceous borders, a small orchard and vegetable garden with little sign of Planning! The garden much loved and used by our family, including 2 grand-daughters and 2 Norwegian Forest cats. The roses and sweet peas will be at their best.
14. Honeypot Cottage, Honeystreet: A delightful cottage garden that would not be out of place at the Chelsea flower show. Cleverly planted for all seasons. Domestic Herb garden. This is an unexpected little gem that will be a delight to all that can find this hidden garden. All with a magnificent view across the fields to the Alton White Horse. (At the back of the Terrace at Honeystreet, just follow the signs)
15. End Cottage, Honeystreet : Sit in this garden and enjoy one of the best views of the hills and the Alton White Horse and enjoy a simple lunch or tea. Walk round the garden and see the bees hives.
12 noon: TALK – An Introduction to Beekeeping by Robert Carpenter Turner the Seasonal Bee Inspector for Wiltshire. For those new to beekeeping Robert will show how we keep bees and collect the honey, and answer your beekeeping questions.
From 12.30 will be serving the Honeystreet special Pucker Ploughman’s Lunch
From 2.00 will be serving Afternoon Teas
Table top stall: The Honeystreet Rag & Bone stall with old garden tools, pots etc. – someone’s rubbish is someone’s treasure.