PASSPORT TO PLEASURE

A stunning historic house visited several times by Elizabeth I and by subsequent monarchs and still owned by the More-Molyneux family, one of whose ancestors built it in 1562. It retains the warmth and welcome of a family home, with three generations of the family living there today, and is filled with fine works of art, furniture and fittings. Guided tours of the house explain the history and relate some of the fascinating stories surrounding the family.

The original two-and-a-half acre Walled Garden was laid out formally in the 1500s and was partly re-designed by Gertrude Jekyll at the turn of the 20th century. Subsequently, a large number of fruit trees were planted but after the Second World War these were removed to pave the way for an Organic Market Garden, providing fruit and vegetables to neighbouring villages and local markets, as well as supplying Loseley House.

In 1991, plans were drawn up to design a formal garden for Loseley. Work began in 1993 and since then the garden has been developed section by section with the Fruit and Vegetable Garden being transformed in 2003.

A new addition for 2007 is a Tea House on the Mulberry Tea Lawn, offering light refreshments to garden visitors and an adjoining marquee providing a seated shaded area. Other facilities include plant sales where plants and herbs grown in the garden can be purchased, a delightful Courtyard Tearoom offering light lunches, cream teas and other refreshments, a very well-stocked gift shop, and beautiful grounds extending down to a lakeside walk.