The Red House

About The Red House

The tranquil garden maintains the 1950s and 1960s domestic setting that reflects the period Britten and Pears were living at The Red House. Elements of its former life as a farm are still present and give the garden structure and character.

There are traditional ‘cottage garden’ mixed borders that surround the house and provide it with a wonderful setting to its musical history. The courtyard displays a magnificent Chinese wisteria, and on the croquet lawn a venerable Irish yew and gnarly Mulberry tree are among notable mature trees on the site. Contemporary beds in front of the Archive building are planted with grasses, bamboos, dogwood and willow to complement a modernist sculpture by artist Geoffrey Clarke. Adjacent, Himalayan birches are complimented by beds planted with pollinator-friendly drought resistant plants for a long summer display.

There is a productive kitchen garden with fruit bushes, seasonal vegetables and ornamental beds with dahlias and sweet peas. The orchard contains apples, pears and stone fruit, and is underplanted with camassia, snakes head fritillaries, and native daffodils and tulips. The Rose terrace beds have recently been restored and planted with rose varieties grown by Britten and Pears.

The Red House inc the collections left by the men and the archive holds an extraordinary wealth of material documenting their lives. The garden offers a peaceful setting to this beautiful corner of Suffolk. For museum opening times, see website.