Woolbeding 1

People we talked with at Petworth and in Midhurst said, well, if you're here to see gardens, then you must see Woolbeding Gardens. Fortunately, Woolbeding is just a mile out of Midhurst, and a shuttle carries you from the Grange carpark directly to the gate. Woolbeding was given to the National Trust in 1957. In 1972, it was leased to Simon Sainsbury (of supermarket fame), and he and his partner Stewart Grimshaw are chiefly responsible for the renovation of the house and for the gardens themselves. Woolbeding is a contemporary gardener's garden, I would say, full of interesting, sometimes spectacular specimens, plant "rooms," water features, and a delightful woodland walk. Also great variety, many inviting structures, and more.

The William Pye fountain, a colossal champagne glass...

The house; not open to the public

Wisteria wall

Garden greenhouse

Belgian fence on a wall (?)

Pool and orangery

Fruit garden; raspberries

There's Mr. Grimshaw now; Mr. Sainbury passed away a few
years ago

Underneath the Pye Fountain, a small group of visitors hears
the introductory talk

Until a decade or so ago, Britain's largest tulip tree--120 feet--
stood here, until taken down by high winds; the temple
memorializes it

Across the croquet lawn, a 90 foot cedar stands for comparison

Back side of the house

Inside the All Hallows church on the grounds

Parts of which--the beams and their carved supports--are Saxon

Wall walk

Another old wall, with beautiful little inset flowers

Flowery lawn

Another cedar

We still haven't figured out what woolbeding is but figure it must
have something to do with sheep

A ruined abbey on the premises...well, the window is from
Scotland but the rest is from the local quarry