Skip to content
Menu

1 Scotsmansfield

Terraced garden of ¾ acre, renewed over a decade after long neglect. Attached to E wing of ‘Scotsmansfield’ (not open), built 1908. Celebration of favourite plants, with colour, shape, texture, scent, light, shade and plentiful wildlife. Trees, fernery, lily pond, mixed borders, yew hedges, lavish roses. Areas of tranquillity and intimacy, occasions of drama and long views of surrounding woods and hills.

Owner Info

  • Peter Vickers & Hilary Taylor
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield
1 Scotsmansfield

About 1 Scotsmansfield

‘Scotsmansfield’ (listed Grade II, not open), was built on the lower slopes of the Long Mynd in 1908, by leading Arts & Crafts architect & founding member of the Art Workers’ Guild, Sir Ernest Newton. The location of a ‘small country house’ of this period was dependent on its ‘prospect & aspect’. Accordingly, Scotsmansfield is distinguished by its long, south-facing aspect, commanding views over the gardens, towards the market town of Church Stretton and surrounding Shropshire Hills – all now in a designated ‘National Landscape’.

The house lost many of its acres (which once included Rectory Wood) in the 1950s & house & gardens were divided into three in the 1960s. Parts of the garden of No.1 were neglected for many years; by 2014 (when current owners arrived), extensive brambles & scrub had been cleared, revealing terraces & lawns, walls, yew hedges & a group of mature North American conifers, legacies of original layout. A lily pond, constructed in the late 1920s, was also uncovered, having been buried beneath collapsed walls and vegetation.

Today, this garden extends to ¾ acre. It has several distinct areas: the oak bank, managed for wild-flowers; shepherd’s hut, enveloped with roses; woodland fernery, with wide collection of Dryopteris & Polystichum, as well as specimen tree ferns & sculptures; a new border, framed by pleached hornbeams – replacing huge conifer, lost to Storm Arwen, November 2021 – featuring irises (mostly gone by midsummer), roses, lavender, lilies & verbena; lily pond surrounded by roses & perennials; mixed borders, generously & intricately planted with trees, shrubs, perennials & single & double roses, some highly fragrant & at their best in mid-summer; formal garden surrounded by yew hedges, with characterful topiary birds & plenty more roses in many hues of white & cream; richly-planted terraced banks; two sheltered terraces, with lavishly planted pots; numerous places to sit, relax & enjoy tea and cake. Designed to complement the house & its setting, the garden is a collection of favourite plants; a celebration of colour, shape, texture, scent, light & shadow & an invitation to many birds, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bats, bees, newts & frogs. It is intended to offer moments of drama, sometimes verging on chaos, & periods of serenity, with places to sit & contemplate the woodlands & hills. Much of what visitors now see has been developed since early 2015 – & much remains to be done!
.

1 Scotsmansfield features

Location details

1 Scotsmansfield,
Church Stretton,
Shropshire,
SY6 6DP

Directions to 1 Scotsmansfield
Approach Church Stretton from A49. At Sandford Rd/ High St jct, turn R & then L, up Burway Rd. No parking. Easthope Rd car park (near Co-op) available SY6 6BL. Shuttle bus running from here.

1 Scotsmansfield openings

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake.
Admission Adult: £6.00
Child: Free
Opening times 11:00-17:00

Accessibility

  • Partial access via steep gravelled paths to some areas. Wheelchair users will need support from an assistant.
  • Share this garden

Other Gardens of Potential Interest

Isfryn image
Isfryn

This artist's garden has been redeveloped over the last six years. Lawn edges have been softened with shrub borders, there is a new softly winding...

Read more
5 Hafan Y Dorlan image
5 Hafan Y Dorlan

This is a relatively new garden leading down to the beautiful River Rhaeadr. A winding path leads down through shrubs and flower beds to a new...

Read more
18 Mortimer Road image
18 Mortimer Road

A small garden, developed over many years, which is packed with plants most of which are native and some very rare inc...

Read more
10 Ottley Way image
10 Ottley Way

A mixed garden with of a variety of shrubs and flower borders, orchard and allotment...

Read more
Buntingsdale Park Gardens image
Buntingsdale Park Gardens

Buntingsdale Park is a hidden gem comprised of former RAF officers’ houses built during World War II. Three very different gardens (two on each...

Read more
Glan Yr Afon image
Glan Yr Afon

500 year old cottage in an acre sloping plot overlooking the Tanat Valley. Large decked area with pergola and arbour. Pond with cascade, productive...

Read more
The White House image
The White House

Created over the past 18 years by current owners from open sloping lawn, into garden 'rooms'. ⅕ acre garden on the site of a former smithy dating...

Read more
Court Acre image
Court Acre

The garden is about an acre in size comprising four different areas. A gravelled driveway leads to lawned areas and mixed borders containing a...

Read more

Don’t miss out

Sign up to our weekly newsletter to hear more about the gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme, events and activities throughout the year

Sign up to our newsletter

FAQs

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Sorry, there is no available parking for coaches at 1 Scotsmansfield at this time.

Sorry, no dogs are allowed in the garden at this time.

There are no plants for sale for the time being.

Yes, one or more routes at 1 Scotsmansfield are accessible to wheelchair users.

Yes. 1 Scotsmansfield seeks to offer a sustainable refuge for nearby fauna and wildlife. These sanctuaries host diverse habitats supporting indigenous flora and fauna and nurturing local biodiversity.