Minterne Garden

About Minterne Garden

Minterne has been the home of the Churchill and Digby families for 350 years since John Churchill acquired the property in the 1600’s. He was succeeded by his son, the first Sir Winston Churchill, who left Minterne to his younger son Charles, much it is said, to the displeasure of his eldest son John, Duke of Marlborough, who just had to ‘make do’ with Blenheim Palace! In 1768 Admiral Robert Digby, a younger son of the 7th Baron Digby of Sherborne Castle, bought Minterne from the executors of the will of General Charles Churchill. It is interesting to note that in his diary later that year, Robert wrote: “Visited my new estate, valley very bare, trees not thriving, house ill contrived and ill situated!” Robert immediately set about landscaping the valley in the manner of Capability Brown, who was working at Sherborne Castle at the time. Although the hills are chalk, the garden is situated on a mound of green sand, which runs for a mile down the centre of the valley. This, with the humus and dappled shade provided by the large beech trees, was the perfect setting for the rhododendrons and magnolias from the Wilson, Forrest, Rock and Kingdon Ward expeditions to the Himalayas. From the early 1950’s until 2005 Minterne flourished under the caring ownership of Lord Digby KCVO and Lady Digby DBE, DL; on 1st November 2005 Lord & Lady Digby handed over the running of the estate to their son Henry who realized what a hard act the 12th Lord Digby was to follow. One of his first tasks as the new owner was to create a more formal look to the front of the house and they brought in garden designer Edward Hohler who re-planted the area. The result is very much a classical Edwardian look in keeping with the house. The secluded gardens at Minterne, famed for its seasonal profusion of rhododendrons, azaleas, Japanese cherries and magnolias are set in a peaceful wooded valley and have been described by Simon Jenkins as ‘corner of paradise.’ In late May and June many fine specimens of Davidia Involucrata (the Pocket Handkerchief Tree) are a particular feature. Small lakes, streams and cascades offer a new vista at each turn around the 1-mile round horseshoe-shaped gardens, and in the summer the streams are enhanced by primulas, astilbes and water-lilies. The autumn colouring is quite sensational. A much loved and cherished country house, it is warm and comfortable and comes to life when it is filled with guests. Minterne is licenced for Civil Marriage Ceremonies and hosts a very limited number of weddings each year, making each one a unique and very special occasion, with the gardens providing a stunning backdrop for photographs. Whether you want to enjoy a peaceful stroll through the wild woodland gardens, hold a Corporate event, host heritage dining for that special occasion, or organise a guided house tour for a special interest group, please contact 01300 341370 for details or email [email protected] website www.minterne.co.uk.

Snowdrops in Feb. Spring bulbs, blossom and bluebells in April. Easter trails for children. Over 200 acers provide spectacular autumn colour in Sept/Oct, inc Halloween trails for children. Fireworks at end of October.