***************************************************************** * Gardens-Guide.com * 250,000 UNIQUE VISITORS in 2011 * 2,000 garden pages viewed per day from March to September 2011 * * 1,000+ Page Views! - One-Quarter of all gardens listed on Gardens-Guide.com * were EACH viewed more than 1,000 times in 2011. * * 500+ Page Views! - HALF of all gardens listed on Gardens-Guide.com were * EACH viewed more than 500 times in 2011. * ***************************************************************** *** UPDATE FORM *** Canons Ashby House 1) Please COPY the entire FORM BELOW 2) Make any changes in BRIGHT RED -OR- mark changed Section Headers with: *** 3) email the ENTIRE FORM UPDATED backto us: wd (at) armchair-travel (dot) com **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** *** also - SEARCH ENGINE BOOSTING for both YOU and Gardens-Guide.com *** If your webmaster could place a link from your own website directly to your page on Gardens-Guide.com, this will improve it's rankings in Google and other search engines. Please use the following format and info on your own site to link to your page in Gardens-Guide.com: at Gardens-Guide.com http://www.gardens-guide.com The premiere directory of open gardens in the UK and Ireland today Ask your friends and suppliers as well to link to your page in Gardens-Guide as well. Every link we get into your page helps rankings for both of us in search engines. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Garden Name: Canons Ashby House Last Modified: 11-01-2011 Garden ID: 0261 pic: 0261_CanonsAshby.jpg NOTE: If this says "missing", then please send us a picture for your page which is at least 1000 x 1000 pixels in size. Thanks! Owner: National Trust Address: Daventry Postcode: NN11 3SD County: Northampton tel: 01327 860044 fax: 01327 861909 website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk email: English Heritage Grade: II* Opening Times: NOTE for 2012: Please check with garden owners or their website to confirm current dates open http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk 13th Feb - 19th Dec; Sat - Wed; 11am - 5:30pm, 31st July - 1st Sept; daily; 11am - 5pm Open Good Fri: 11am - 5pm. Closes dusk if earlier. Last admission 30mins before closing Best Times of Year to Visit: Summer To see: Fernery, Annual bedding, mixed borders,fruit trees National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: Yes Comments: 29th May & 5th Sept, Suns. Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: Write to Head Gardener (s.a.e.) House Open for Viewing: Yes Comments: House tours: 13th Feb - 31st Oct; Sat - Wed; 11am - 1pm. 31st July - 1st Sept; daily; 11am - 4pm. House open 13th Feb - 31st Oct; 1pm - 5pm. 6th Nov - 19th Dec; 12 noon - 4pm Admission Prices: Adult £8.50, child £4.15, family £20.75. Groups £6.95, child £3.40. Garden only: £3.10, child £1.85, Winter grounds only: £1.85, child1.05. Group Adults £2.95 Child £1.75 Donation box for church Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: Yes Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: Yes Only on Lead: Yes Events: Yes Other Facilities: Dogs on lead in Home Paddock/Car park only. Also picnics there only. Features: After completing the reinstatement of the Sun dial Terrace last year and a fernery in the Green Court, this year we are starting on the second phase of the Garden Restoration which incorporates the top terrace. This involves reinstating five beds in each of the lawns, four round beds in each corner with one diamond in the centre all planted with seasonal bedding. The croquet lawn was previously screened from view from the top terrace by a yew hedge planted in the 1980. A croquet set is now available to borrow so the lawn can once again be used for its intended purpose! Designer: London & Wise style. Description of Garden: A lovely romantic garden set in rolling Northamptonshire countryside surrounding a very elegant old country house faced in the attractive golden-brown stone of that area. The terraces, now restored by the National Trust are full of fruit bushes, vines, and apple trees mixed with flowers and shrubs. Remarkably one of the original four great cedars planted in 1781 still survives, guarding the main axis leading down past lawns, roses, yews and lilacs to the Lion Gates with their fine Baroque gate piers. Beyond these an avenue of limes connects the garden to the fine and surprisingly large church and passes the wild flower gardens. The West Court containing eight topiary yews was once the main entrance to the house but its sweep of lawn, espaliered walls and charming statue of a shepherd boy demonstrate the elegance of an early 18th century garden. History: An old Tudor house with a pele tower was refaced by Edward Dryden in 1710 though he had begun work on the garden in 1708 using a simple but elegant and dignified design with walls to shelter the plants from the winds, and terraces and avenues leading down towards the church, lake and into the park. The National Trust faced a difficult task in restoring this garden to its former grandeur but was aided by articles and photographs in 'Country Life' and earlier publications on garden design around the turn of the 20th century, which lauded Canons Ashby for the simple formality of its layout. Local Inns: Kings Arms, Farthingstone Royal Oak, Eydon Windmill, Badby George & Dragon, Chacombe Accomodation: Windmill, Badby Restaurants: Village/Town/Sightseeing: