Sissinghurst Castle Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The gardens at Sissinghurst Castle in the Weald of Kent, near Cranbrook, Goudhurst and Tenterden, are owned and maintained by the National Trust.Sissinghurst was created in the 1930s by Vita Sackville-West, poet and gardening writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, author and diplomat, both members of the Bloomsbury group. It is one of the best-loved gardens in the whole of the United Kingdom, drawing visitors from all over the world. The garden itself is designed as a series of "rooms", each with a different character of colour and/or theme, the walls being high clipped hedgess.
The site is ancient - its name comes from the Saxon and means 'clearing in the woods'. A stone manor surrounded by a moat was built in the Middle Ages. The original building was replaced in the 15th century by a large manor built by the Baker family - related by marriage to the Sackvilles of Knole. For Vita, Sissinghurst and its garden rooms came to symbolically represent Knole, reputedly the largest house in Britain, which as the only child of Lionel, 3rd Lord Sackville she should have inherited but which had passed to her uncle as the male heir.
Vita and Harold found the place after concern that their property Long Barn, near Sevenoaks Kent, was close to development over which they had no control. Although it was in derelict condition, they purchased it in 1930 and began constructing the garden we know today. The layout by Harold and planting by Vita were both strongly influenced by the gardens of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens and also by Hidcote designed and owned by Lawrence Johnston. It was first opened to the public in 1938.
The National Trust took over the gardens in 1967. The garden epitomises the English garden of the mid 20th century The gardens are now very popular and visitors should be prepared for a wait for admission during busy periods.
See also
History of gardening (with a list of notable historical gardens)
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