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Garden Owners,
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Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
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Garden Name: Parham House & Gardens
Last Modified: 12/01/2011
Garden ID: 0333

pic: 0333_Parham.jpg

Owner: Mrs. Patricia Kennedy
Address:
Nr. Pulborough


Postcode: RH20 4HS
County: West Sussex

tel: 01903-742021
fax: 01903-746557
website: www.parhaminsussex.co.uk
email: enquiries {at} parhaminsussex.co.uk

Features: 
Many events - see own website
10th Apr - A Celebration of Spring
9th - 10th July, 10.30am - 5pm - Garden Weekend
7th Aug, Ice Cream Sundae
4th Sept, Stitches in Time
16th Oct; 11am - 5pm - Autumn Foraging at Parham

English Heritage Grade:
II*

Opening Times:
3rd Apr- 29th Sept; Wed, Thurs, Suns & Bank Hol Mons; 12noon - 5pm
Also Tuesdays and Fridays between May and August; 12noon - 5pm
House and Gardens will also be open on Sundays in October

Best Times of Year to Visit: 


To see: 


National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Also Tuesdays and Fridays in August 2pm-5pm

Admission Prices:
House & Gardens - £8.50 (Adult) £8.00 (Senior Citizen) £4.00 Children (5-15yrs)
Gardens only - £6.50 (Adults) £6.00 (Senior Citizen) £3.00 Children (5-15yrs
Season tickets available - check own website.

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: No
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:
Big Kitchen open for light lunches and cream teas from 12 noon.


Designer: Peter Coats
Description of Garden:
Parham House lies at the base of the South Downs, with wonderful views of the surrounding country. Set in one of England's finest surviving mediaeval deer parks, possessing a herd of dark fallow deer first recorded in 1628, but probably dating from the days when Parham belonged to the Monastery of Westminster.

The four-acre 18th century walled garden is divided into four squares by crossed paths. These paths are lined by huge luxuriant herbaceous and cut flower borders. Beyond the borders are rose and lavender gardens, a herb garden, vegetables, an orchard and a very beautiful 1920's teak greenhouse.

In one corner there is a charming Wendy House built in 1928 for The Hon Clive Pearson's three daughters, a perfect child-sized cottage with a beautifully made wooden staircase. Outside the walled garden there are extensive pleasure gardens with pond and maze. The whole area is a triple SSSI with large areas of wild flowers.

 


History: 
The Palmer family acquired the land after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the early 16th century, laying the foundation stone of the house in 1577. The Bysshops family bought the estate in 1601 and the 17th Baroness Zouche of Harynworth, a member of that family, sold it in 1922 to The Hon. Clive Pearson. His daughter, Veronica Tritton, lived at Parham until she died in 1993 and her great-neice, Lady Emma Barnard, still lives in the private side of the house with her husband James. Thus only three families have lived at Parham since the 1530's. Mr. Pearson and his wife, Alicia, restored the gardens before WWII, having found them in a sad state when the bought the estate, and opened them to the public in 1948.

The 14th Lord Zouche designed the Pleasure Grounds and Pond in about 1863. Victor Heal, FRIBA, designed the garden buildings and laid out the paths in the 1920s. Peter Coats, the garden designer, was brought in in the 1980s to lay out the Entrance Borders and Blue and Gold Borders. The vegetable, rose and lavender gardens were all planned and laid out in the 1990's. All the existing borders have been re-planned and replanted, again in the 1990's. This work was carried out by Joe Reardon-Smith and Ray Gibbs, the emphasis being on the late romantic English garden tradition. Veronica's Maze was built in 1991 and named after Mrs. Tritton. Its design is adapted from the intricate 16th century embroidery on the Great Bed in the Great Chamber in the House. Tom Brown is the current Head Gardener.

Local Inns: 
Star Inn, Steyning
George and Dragon, Burpham

Accomodation: 
Moorings, Worthing

Restaurants: 
Fleur de Sel, Storrington

Village/Town/Sightseeing: