Summary
A lovely gardens begun by Elizabeth, 1st Countess of Ilchester, in 1765.
The gardens cover 20 acres, and contain unusual and exotic plants from
around the world.
The gardens
In 1765, Elizabeth, Countess of Ilchester, built a fanciful summer home
overlooking Chesil Bank. The house, in the shape of a mock castle, no
longer exists. But the garden that Countess Elizabeth created still
survives, and it is this 18th century paradise that forms the basis
for the Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens. The Gardens have been expanded
several times since their inception, and today they cover 20 acres of
meandering paths through peaceful glades and woodlands.
The
garden site is protected from the cold sea breeze by the surrounding
hills, and by belts of oak and tamarisk. The soil is remarkable for
this area; its sandy soil providing unusual opportunities for horticultural
experimentation. Examples rare to this country include Japanese camellias,
a Caucasian Wing Nut tree, and an olive variant which is, at 60 feet
high, the tallest in Britain.
Much of the success of the gardens is down to the Strangways family,
descendants of the 1st Countess. The 4th Earl of Ilchester William Strangways,
travelled far and wide in the course of his diplomatic career, and sent
home plant samples from all across the globe.
In a sense, there is not one garden, but many. Paths join smaller garden
areas such as the Himalayan Grove, Tea, Rose, Victorian, Valley, and
Peat gardens, among others. There are also a pair of stepped lily ponds
at the top of the gardens, and a wonderful viewing point up to St Catherine's
Chapel on the hill high above.
Getting There
Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens is located just off the B3157, on the
western outskirt of Abbotsbury village, 9 miles west of Weymouth.
Opening
For current opening times and ticket prices, see the official gardens
website (below). Joint tickets are available, allowing access to the
Gardens, Swannery, and Children's Farm.
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