The Dower House

About The Dower House

The Dower House Garden in Melbourne has a breathtaking view south over Melbourne Pool, seen from a balustraded terrace running the length of the house (built 1829 and extended by Adam Architecture in 2015). Paths and steps descend either side of this terrace down a large bank covered in roses and shrubs to the lower lawn. An herbaceous border, at its best through summer and autumn, runs down one side of the main lawn whilst opposite is a hot bed of vibrant reds and yellows at its peak from July to October. The garden has numerous paths to different areas, each providing a variety of planting opportunities. There can be found a bog garden, dry banks, grass borders, wide lawns, the dappled shade of a glade, an orchard and shrubbery, a small rockery and little woodland with many island beds. There are areas of dark and light, vibrancy and calm, intimacy and openness. Early in the year there are snowdrops and many scented plants including the huge Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill with other winter delights, the rhododendrons follow in late spring when the Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’ is covered with its white ‘handkerchief’ bracts and so much fresh colour abounds throughout the garden; in summer the garden is filled with the scent of hundreds of roses whilst many unusual trees are at their best (including the rare Poliothrysis sinensis and Picrasma quassioides). The garden is full of autumn colour from mid August to early November and between December and January the garden rests awhile. In the kitchen garden, accessible from the greenhouse or front courtyard, sweet peas climb through obelisks and roses cover the surrounding stable and cottage walls. A small and quiet adjacent courtyard is full of container planting.

Children can search for a bronze crocodile, a stone pig, a metal bug and a strange bird. They might also see a bronze girl doing cartwheels, two sleeping dragons and find a lion’s face in a fountain.

There are many seats around the garden where visitors may pause to take in the views. The paths and steps to the lower level are unsuitable for wheelchairs, but the terrace, woodland, rockery, herb garden, rose garden and kitchen garden can all be reached avoiding any steps. The view from the terrace never fails to please, whatever the time of year and whatever the weather.

There is normally parking in nearby Castle Square, Church Square or Penn Lane. The house is next to one of the finest Norman Churches in England – one of Simon Jenkins’ ‘top hundred’ and is well worth a visit.

Griselda Kerr is author of The Apprehensive Gardener published by Pimpernel Press in 2019, now into its second edition. Whilst the book deals with the care of most plants that are to be found in an English garden all the illustrations are taken within The Dower House garden.
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Hidden paths and different areas entice children to explore the garden with various animals such as a bronze crocodile and stone dragons to find. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times due to the proximity of water. This garden is proud to provide plants for the National Garden Scheme’s Show Garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2024.