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Garden Owners,
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Armchair Travel Co Ltd
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Garden Name: Doddington Hall
Last Modified: 12/01/2011
Garden ID: 0428

pic: 0428_Doddington.jpg

Owner: Claire Birch
Address:
Doddington
Lincoln

Postcode: LN6 4RU
County: Lincolnshire

tel: 01522 694308
fax: 01522 687213
website: www.doddingtonhall.com
email: info {at} doddingtonhall.com

Features: 
Spring bulbs, wild & formal gardens, magnificent tree specimens, walled gardens, box-edged parterres and herbaceous borders, flag iris, crown imperials, turf maze, rhododendrons.
Fully-productive walled Kitchen Garden.
Award-Winning Farm Shop and Cafe should definitely be visited.

English Heritage Grade:
II*

Opening Times:
Gardens only: 13th February - 17th April; throughout Oct; 11am - 4pm
House & Gardens: 24th Apr - 28th September; Weds, Sun & BH Mons, 1pm - 5pm, last admission 4.15pm. Gardens open 11am
Iris Week: 29 May - 5 June: Gardens (only) open daily, 11am - 5pm

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
Feb
Mar & Apr
May, June, July

To see: 
Crocus, snowdrops & scented shrubs
Daffodils, Crown Imperials, wild Spring flowers
Herbaceous borders, Walled Garden, Irises at end of May/June

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 20th March, Sun
25th May, Wed

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: By appointment. Free recce tour & refreshments for driver.

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: 24th Apr - 28th Sept; Wed, Sun & BH Mons; 1pm - 5pm

Admission Prices:
Gardens only: Adult £5; Child £2.75; Family £14 (2A + 4C); Child under 4 free; Garden Season £20 (1 adult;) £35
(2 adults; £40 (2A + 4C)
House & Gardens: Adult £8.50; Child £4.25; Family £22 (2A + 4C); Child under 4 free; House & Garden Season £25 (1 adult;) £40 (2 adults; £45 (2A + 4C); 2 for 1 for disabled visitor + carer

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: No
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: No
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Registered Assistance dogs only
Award-Winning Farm Shop and Cafe, call 01522 688 581 for details and lunch bookings. 
Iris Week: See Doddington's famous Irises at their very best! Gardens open daily 29 May - 5 June, 11am - 5pm.
RHS event 1. Getting the best out of your Cutting Garden - 20 April & 14 September, 10am - 12.30pm, led by Rachel Petheram of Catkin Flowers, based at Doddington Hall.
RHS event 2. Cooks' Tour of the Kitchen Garden - 23 June & 8 September, 10am - 12.30pm, led by Amy Claridge, resident Cooking Demonstrator.
RHS event 3. Getting the best out of Irises - 14 July, 10am - 12.30pm, led by Jon Lawrance, Head Gardener.
Call 0845 6121 253 to book an RHS event.


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
Doddington Hall is surrounded by five acres of romantic walled gardens, with formal topiary, box-edged knot garden, fountains and sumptuous borders. Flag Iris is a speciality.

The wild garden has a superb succession of spring flowering bulbs and Rhododendrons from February to May. There are naturalised Crown Imperial Lilies, Victorian Daffodil varieties and a brave show of native spring wildflowers.

Meander down delightful paths and discover magnificent old trees, a Temple of the Winds, water gardens and a turf maze. There's also a nature trail through the surrounding park woods and farmland. The now fully-restored and productive walled Kitchen Garden is open to the public; wonderful displays of fruit and vegetable cultivars, chosen for their heritage and culinary interest, will be on show.


History: 
Doddington Hall is a very fine late Elizabethan Mansion, completed in 1600. It was built by Robert Smythson for Thomas Taylor who was the registrar to the Bishop of Lincoln. Smythson also designed Longleat, Hardwick Hall and Burton Agnes. Doddington's high symmetrical outlines and huge windows symbolise the security and confidence of Queen Elizabeth's prosperous age.

In 1749 the Hall was inherited by John Delaval of Seaton Delaval in Northumberland. He carried out an extensive redesign of the interior in a bold Georgian manner. However he did not change the house externally which remains as it it was in 1600 including the gatehouse, courtyards and formal gardens.

In 1830 George Jarvis inherited the house from his ladyfriend Sarah Gunman who was heiress to the property; the present owners are his direct descendants.

Since 1974 Doddington has been the family home of Mr & Mrs Antony Jarvis. In 2005 Claire Birch, (nee Jarvis) and her husband James Birch took over the running of the Family Estate.

Local Inns: 
Bottle & Glass, Harby

Accomodation: 
The Lincoln Hotel, Lincoln

Restaurants: 
Dovecote on A46
Bottle & Glass, Harby
Various in Lincoln

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Lincoln