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The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle

Extending to just over 1½ acres, the gardens inc lawns surrounded by perennial beds and mature shrubs, a pond, orchard, rose garden and a romantic ruin, remains of the lost C13 church. Tending toward the wild, the garden is full of colour; foxgloves, wisteria, rhododendron, alliums and ornamental trees. Sales by local artists and craftsmen throughout the garden.

Owner Info

  • Helen & Jerry Robinson
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle

About The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle

The gardens of the Old Vicarage originally extended to over five acres and there are historic photographs from its heyday when a team of gardeners would have kept manicured lawns, pergolas and a large kitchen garden. Evidence can still be seen beyond the modern boundaries; tall garden walls in the new Rectory garden and two magnificent Wellingtonia, (Sequoiadendron giganteum) to the south, planted we think by an intrepid plant hunting vicar, a missionary to the Americas in the late eighteenth century.
Reduced to just over one and a half acres, the gardens had become derelict, to be restored and reinvented since the 1980’s when the Vicarage passed into private ownership. It now includes several lawned areas surrounded by perennial beds and mature shrubs, an ornamental pond, (currently undergoing work), an orchard and a romantic ruin, fragments of the lost thirteenth century church and Grade 2 listed in its own right.

The current owners have had the garden since 2016 and have been engaged in a program of radical pruning of over-matured shrubs and storm damaged trees, notably a mulberry and a large weeping willow. Tending toward the wild, in early summer the garden is full of colour; foxgloves, wisteria, rhododendron, alliums, buttercups and ornamental trees. Over the course of the pandemic, numerous shrubs have been relocated and beds replanted with herbaceous perennials. The orchard has been restocked, a grove of silver birch and other ornamental trees planted on the lower lawn and a collection of bamboos and grasses established in swathes beside the pond. Most recently, a new rose garden has been planted, a ‘secret garden’ concealed within mature yew hedging.

Location details

The Old Vicarage,
Bishops Castle,
Bishops Castle,
Shropshire,
SY9 5AF

Directions to The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle
Pedestrian access through the main gate on Church Ln or through the garden gate to the rear of St John’s churchyard.

The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle openings

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

Accessibility

  • Level access over gravel drive and lawns.
  • Share this garden

Other Gardens of Potential Interest

FAQs

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Sorry, there is no available parking for coaches at The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle at this time.

Yes, dogs are welcome at The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle. Please keep the dogs on fixed short leads in the garden and keep in mind that you are responsible for controlling the dog’s behaviour. For any specific rules please ask the owners.

There are no plants for sale for the time being.

Yes, one or more routes at The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle are accessible to wheelchair users.

Yes. The Old Vicarage, Bishops Castle 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.