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Smedmore House

Two acres of romantically disordered gardens, including walled flower gardens, Mediterranean garden and herb courtyard. Extensive lawn on the side of the house with deep herbaceous borders including display of hydrangeas, interesting plants and shrubs. A giant Holm oak marks the path that takes you through woods and fields, past sphinxes, urns and obelisks and down to the sea at Kimmeridge Bay.

Owner Info

Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House
Smedmore House

About Smedmore House

The house and gardens at Smedmore are in a windswept position on the southern side of the Purbeck Hills within sound and sight of the sea. Shelter belts to the south west and north have been planted to enable a calmer climate to be created around the house.

The 1761 front of the house faces towards the north west with the gardens to the south and east, where there are terraces and small walled gardens. Five walled gardens, including a Mediterranean garden, surround the house and are filled with a great variety of shrubs and flowers, including mimosa and banana. The garden is filled with roses, wisteria and includes a honey locust tree. There is a 17th C brew house and an orchard with Bee Boles.

Clavell Tower, a cliff edge eye catcher, lies to the east. The tower was built in 1831.Clavell Tower was relocated and restored by the Landmark Trust in 2007-8.

Brief history of site:
In 1391 Henry Smedmore sold the site to William Wyot, ancestor of the present owner. The first mention of the gardens is when the original house was built by Sir William Clavell in 1612 with ‘pleasant’ gardens. In 1817 the Rev. John Richards took the name of Clavell when inheriting the estate and built the Clavell Tower. In1833 his niece Louisa Pleydell, wife of Colonel John Mansel inherited the estate.

The garden’s fortunes have fluctuated due to many tenants, but the most noteworthy was Major Van de Weyer 1896-1924, who was an enthusiastic gardener and raised the Buddleja x weyeriana. After a period of neglect following World War II, the flower garden was restored by Mrs John Mansel, wife of the owner, in 1958-89. Since 1989 her son Dr Philip Mansel has made a walk from the garden to Kimmeridge Bay, with urns and obelisks. The kitchen garden has become an orchard and pasture. Tropical plants have recently been added due to climate change.

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Website:

https://www.smedmorehouse.com

Smedmore House features

Location details

Smedmore House,
Kimmeridge,
Dorset,
BH20 5PG

Directions to Smedmore House
Turn W off A351 (Wareham-Swanage) at sign to Kimmeridge, turn L before Kimmeridge village, continue up drive.

Smedmore House openings

This garden has now completed its National Garden Scheme openings for this year.

Accessibility

  • No information available at this time, please get in touch with head office for more information.
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FAQs

Payment is by cash only. Please get in touch with the owners for more details.

Yes, coaches are accepted at Smedmore House. Please get in touch with the owners for details.

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 Smedmore House are accessible to wheelchair users.

Yes. Smedmore House 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.