This delightful small, walled garden is something of a hidden secret, situated at the north end of Preston Park and adjacent to Preston Manor.
The garden is laid out as a quadrant, and features a small formal pond, a laburnham archway and extensive formal beds and herbaceous borders. Although maintenance isn't quite what it might be (and herbaceous borders require a tremendous amount of maintenance in season) it's still a lovely place to wander, and there is a huge number of plants to admire. It's a good place to get inspiration for your own garden.
Although parts of the garden walls date to the early 17th century, the garden was actually laid out in the late Victorian and early Edwardian periods. It is now planted as a 'Queen Anne' garden, typical of small 17th and 18th-century gardens.
The south west corner includes a late 19th-century pet cemetery, wherein are interred 16 dogs and 4 cats, 3 of which were employed as 'mousers' by the local council. The most poignant memorial reads: 'In memory of dear Soot, who for nine years was our faithful friend and playfellow. He was cruelly poisoned and died in consequence on June 17th, 1884'.
The garden was restored in 2001 with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. read more