38 Chapel Street

About 38 Chapel Street

This is a level 1/2 acre plantsman’s garden in a quiet street close to the Centre of Ely and its magnificent cathedral. There is year-round interest for the visitor starting with a good show of hellebores, spring flowers and tree blossom; ending with salvias flowering late into December (barring early frosts). In summer and autumn there is a profusion of hybrid tea and climbing roses, and well-stocked herbaceous borders with plants and shrubs chosen for form and foliage as well as colour. Many unusual plants are to be found both in the flower borders, in the fine newly- established gravel garden, rapidly maturing rockery and in numerous pots/ containers.

The well-secluded rear garden contains lawns and terrace areas, gravel garden and rockery, herbaceous borders, vegetable beds and fruit trees (a large productive quince, fig, plum, greengage etc). In their season viburnum Hillieri Winton and solanum rantonetti attract special attention, as do the profuse and varied climbing and hybrid tea roses.

The owners, Julia and Peter Williams, have lived in Ely for 7 years and started opening the garden for NGS in 2020. They usually have plants for sale on a stall at the gate and can provide teas & refreshments on request. Parking available for up to 4 cars, and ‘By Arrangement’ visitors may wish to avail themselves of this facility given that the Cathedral, Cromwell House and Ely Museum are all only 5 minutes walk away.

Secluded and tranquil level garden near city centre. Wide variety of unusual plants, year-round. Well established quince often producing 500 or more fruits. Of special note cut-leaf elder, Solanum rantonnetii, Viburnum x hillieri Winton.