The Garden House
{{Short description|Open garden in Buckland Monachorum}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
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{{Infobox building
| name = The Garden House
| image = The_Garden_House.jpg
| caption = North-facing view of garden and house
| location = Buckland Monachorum
| address = The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 7LQ
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| location_country = England
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| website = {{URL|https://www.thegardenhouse.org.uk/}}
}}
The Garden House is an open garden located in Buckland Monachorum, Devon, England. The first house built in 1305 was intended to be a home for the vicars of the civil parish.
The gardens are now open to the public and are home to a number of historical features, including the ruins of the old vicarage, a 14th-century barn, and a 17th-century dovecote.
History
The first house was built in 1305 by the Abbot, upon instruction from the Bishop to build a house for the parish priest, and was later enlarged to become a three-storey building.
The Garden House was originally the early 19th century home of the vicars of Buckland Monachorum. The garden was bought by Lionel Fortescue, a former head of languages and master at Eton College, and his wife Katherine Fortescue in the 1940s following World War II. They began a process of restoration and expansion over the course of 40 years and created a series of linked gardens.{{Cite web |title=Garden House, Buckland Monachorum |url=https://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=1924 |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Britain Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gardens (en) |first=Parks and |date=2017-12-13 |title=The Garden House - Tavistock |url=https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/garden-house-the |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Parks & Gardens |language=en}}
The remains of this building are a tower with spiral staircase and a thatched barn, formerly the kitchen, are now ruins on the lower terrace in the walled garden. A tearoom has also been built on the ground floor.{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=Sisley |date=2012-12-01 |title=English Gardens: The Garden House, Devon |url=https://www.sisley.co.uk/the-garden-house-devon/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Sisley Garden Tours |language=en-GB}}
Grounds
The Garden House covers 10 acres{{Cite web |title=Spring time! Lovely park and garden walks with pitstops - Devon {{!}} Muddy Stilettos |url=https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/mothers-day-walks-tearooms-devon/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Spring time! Lovely park and garden walks with pitstops - Devon {{!}} Muddy Stilettos |language=en}} of land and is divided into themed areas. There are five terraces in the walled garden that began the garden. They include formally planted areas, including a tennis court, camellia walk and a lower terrace of folial borders.{{Cite web |last=Leaves |first=Weeds Roots |date=2023-04-30 |title=The Lion’s Pride: The Garden House |url=https://weedsrootsleaves.com/2023/04/30/the-lions-pride-the-garden-house/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Weeds Roots & Leaves |language=en-US}}
The Walled Garden is a 2-acre plot set around the remnants of a 16th-century vicarage. It features terraced layout and a tower offering views of the landscape.{{Cite web |title=The Garden House, Devon, map and places to stay - Great British Gardens |url=https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/devon/item/the-garden-house.html |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk}}
The Jubilee Arboretum, which contains over a hundred specimen trees as well as a man made lake, was officially opened by HRH The Countess of Wessex in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Garden |url=https://www.thegardenhouse.org.uk/visit/garden/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=The Garden House |language=en-GB}}
File:Garden House Doors.jpg|Doors into the walled garden
File:Dovecote Garden House.jpg|View onto path from the dovecote
File:The Garden House Lake.jpg|The Jubilee Arboretum, stream flowing from the lake
File:The Garden House Lime Tree Walk.jpg|Path through the lime tree walk
File:Magic Circle.jpg|Path onto the magic stone circle