Visit to Walcot Hall, Barnack

The gardens: from the road an impressive high stone wall screens views of Walcot Hall and its surrounding parkland and gardens but from inside the walls the views appear endless. The Carolean Hall, listed Grade I, was built in the 1670s but the formal gardens that we see today are a result of many improvements and plantings made at the end of the 19C and into the 20C. The owner at that time – a Mr Dearden – was an enthusiastic collector of trees and especially of conifers. His many plantings include wellingtonias, junipers and cypresses that today have reached an impressive size. Looking west from the terrace surrounding the house there is an extensive lawn framed by trees and, through ornate iron gates, extends a long double avenue of limes. Other features of the garden include an Italianate water garden that lies at right angles to a long canal that probably was a much older creation, interesting decorative stone garden buildings such as a rotunda, and an impressive monument to a favourite dog that died in 1901. Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust members, Darby and Catherine Dennis, have spent many years clearing and restoring the gardens and thinning out the trees after the damage and neglect resulting from World War II. A more recent project has been the creation of a rose garden planned by garden designer, Bunny Guinness..

Time: meet at 10:30am; visit ends 1:00pm.

Logistics: Walcot Hall is just south of the village of Barnack. Sat navs should use the postcode PE9 3EU. The entrance to use is on Walcot Road with a red Royal Mail post box to the left of the gateway. Please do not use the main drive for entry: this is on a tight corner with limited visibility. There is ample parking and you will be directed into the gardens where there will be refreshments (inside the house if the weather is poor).

Following refreshments the visit will start with an introductory talk by Catherine Dennis, who will tell us about the history of the Hall and its gardens and how these have been developed over the years. You can then explore the gardens at your leisure. Please note that the stone paths can be slippery in damp weather. If you want to combine the visit to Walcot with another interesting landscape then the adjacent Hills and Holes nature reserve, once the site of a medieval quarry, home to rare limestone grassland with wildflowers and butterflies is worth visiting https://langdyke.org.uk/welcome-to-langdyke-countryside-trust/lct-es/barnack-hills-and-holes/ .

Bookings: £18 for members of CGT and the Plant Heritage Group, £20 for guests, by BACS transfer to our new bank account in the name of Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust (sort code 30-99-50, account number 80635768) using ‘Walcot’ and your name as reference; please confirm payment by email to admin. Cheques, payable to Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust, may be sent to Judith Christie, Teal Cottage, Fen Drayton CB24 4SH. Please book by 28 May so that we have numbers for catering.

We look forward to seeing you there!