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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: Cothay Manor Gardens Last Modified: 19-03-2012 Garden ID: 0225 pic: 0225_Cothay.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: Mr. & Mrs. Alistair Robb Address: Greenham Wellington Postcode: TA21 0JR County: Somerset tel: 01823-672283 fax: website: www.cothaymanor.co.uk email: cothaymanor //at// btinternet.com English Heritage Grade: II* Opening Times: Gardens: 1st Sunday in April - 30th September; Tues, Weds, Thurs, Suns & BHs; 11am - 5.30pm, last entry 4.30pm. Groups: every day of the week during the season; flexible timings not limited to those above Best Times of Year to Visit: May - end July To see: National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: Yes Comments: 25th July Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Yes Must approach via GREENHAM Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: All groups by appointment, throughout the year House Open for Viewing: Yes Comments: Groups usually 20+ by appointment, every day of the year except Christmas week. Not limited by usual opening times. On most Sundays and Bank Holidays, two groups from the general public are taken around the house at 11.45am and 2.15pm, at £6.50 per person. Requires Garden Admission. Sorry, no children on House Tours Admission Prices: Adult, Gardens £7; Child (under 12) £3.50; House pre-booked in groups of 20+ only. Please contact for info pack and discounts Season tickets: Single: £28, Joint Membership: £49. Includes a free hot drink per card holder, per visit. Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: Yes Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: No Only on Lead: No Events: Yes Other Facilities: Limited disabled access on House Tours Picnics not in the garden Lunches, supper or light refreshments can be arranged for groups, similarly picnics. Please request info pack. Corporate Entertainment, Conferences, Events and Private Hire Calendar of Events - Please go to our website for full details of forthcoming events 19th May 12. Fundraising event in support of Horatio's Garden Appeal for the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. Mary-Anne Robb will give a talk on the history of the Manor and the recent development of the Gardens. Advance ticketing only through www.ssit.org.uk 25th - 27th May 12. Cothay's 5th Fine Art, Decorative and Antiques Fair. Timings (Summer) Fri 12 noon - 6pm; Sat 10am-5pm/Sun 10am-5 pm. Stands inside the Manor and within marquees on the Cothay lawn(s). Food and refreshments in the Tea Room all day. Entry £5 (Includes full access to the gardens (normally £7)). 9th June 12. The Festival Players perform Shakespeare's Richard III. An action-packed, fast-paced 'royal' story for the Jubilee, with pageantry & fanfare! Box office (01823) 672283 or cothaymanor@btinternet.com. Tickets £14. Doors open 6pm; "curtain up" at 7pm. Bring a picnic and rugs. www.thefestivalplayers.co.uk 16th June 12. Garden, Food and Plant Fair in support of The Daisy Garland - A Journey of Hope for Children with Epilepsy. 10.30am - 5.00pm. www.thedaisygarland.org.uk 14th July 12. Rebecca Hollweg In Concert at Cothay. An early evening concert of light jazz and melodic songs from a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and her excellent musicians. "Just a beautiful sound, great vibeÉ" Janice Long on BBC Radio 2. www.rebeccahollweg.com. 7th-9th Dec 12 Cothay's Sixth Fine Art, Decorative and Antiques Fair - Garden Courses. Six every year. See website for details. Features: Romantic plantsman's garden laid out in the 1920s, now restored and enhanced. 12 acres around classical medieval Manor Featured on national TV programme at the end of 2008 and again in 2009 Designer: Reginald Cooper DSO; Alastair & Mary-Anne Robb Description of Garden: This magical, romantic garden surrounds what is said to be the most perfect example of a small classic mediaeval manor. Many garden rooms, each a garden in itself, are set off the 200yd yew walk. In addition there is a bog garden with azaleas and drifts of primuli, fine trees, a cottage garden, courtyards, and a river walk through 5 acres of young specimen trees. A plantsman's paradise of 12 acres. History: The gardens at Cothay were laid out in the 1920's by Colonel Reginald Cooper. Reggie Cooper was Harold Nicholson's (Sissinghurst) oldest friend. They were at school together, in the Diplomatic Corps, and were friends of Laurence Johnson (Hidcote), and Lutyens. This band of gardeners exchanged ideas and in Harold Nicholson's diaries there is mention that "Reggie came to stay and advised me on the length of the bowling green". It is interesting that Cothay was laid out in the 1920's and Sissinghurst in 1932. A garden writer recently described Cothay as the Sissinghurst of the West Country. In 1993 the present owners, Alastair & Mary-Anne Robb found the gardens in need of total restoration. The gardens were gutted but the original Reggie Cooper structure was retained. The yew hedges were restored and the garden rooms, off the 200yd yew walk, have all been re-designed. New gardens have been created including a bog garden in the Oxbow, formed when Reggie Cooper moved the River Tone to save his favourite Pine trees from erosion. An Arboretum has been planted, a small lake dug, a mound created, and a wild flower meadow sown. The restoration, which is on-going, is now in its nineteenth year. Local Inns: The Globe, Appley Accomodation: Greenham Hall, Thorne Manor, Thorne St. Margaret Restaurants: Village/Town/Sightseeing: Wellington, Somerset