Duffryn Gardens is just out of Cardiff on the A48 heading West. Its a place where we used to go as a family but then it was Council owned and was used for Craft Fairs and theatre groups put on Summer shows. It has now been passed to the National Trust and is gradually being restored, I suspect that the cost of this restoration was the main reason why it was given to the N T.
Like most NT places it has excellent tea rooms so its also a favourite stop off place when cycling.
Here's the link
Its also used for educational purposes and the current theme was W W l. in one of the rooms a WWl trench had been recreated.
Here's the artists signature.
For some reason this was always a favourite when we brought the kids.
Bee's just love Aliums.
This border has been decorated with various Sempervivum.
Not one....but two.
Its the scale of these Edwardian gardens that amaze me and the grandeur of the trees. but this was how a lot of the people who lived in this style took their exercise, by having a stroll around the gardens and no doubt a word with the gardener if something was out of place.
Following the WWl theme they have created an allotment.
This reminded me of my allotment shed and having a cuppa when working on it.
The grand greenhouse is home to many plants, but when your wealth has come from coal heating these huge greenhouses wasn't an issue.
As always there is the fascination with orchids and there are a few varieties here.
The Head Gardeners "office"
No doubt the washing and stacking of these pots was a job for a trainee.
Looks a brilliant place - so much of interest to see.
ReplyDeleteYou have to take your hat off to the gardeners back in the heyday of these places, none of the tools we're used to these days, just lots of hard earned knowledge and equally hard graft.
That's quite some house too - a lot of money to be made from coal back then obviously. Well, by a few anyway.
Good post Dave, hope you're coping with the weather well - we're supposed to get thunder tonight - I hope so! Never thought I'd say it, but I want some rain!
Yes it was hard graft to keep these gardens looking good. We're due for some rain tomorrow evening, but we'll see, as I wouldn't mind some too. I went for a short ride today and the thermometer on the speedo read 95F. They are probably not very accurate but it was hot.
DeleteThanks for posting all of these photos. What a wonderful place. I wish I could have seen it in person, but this is the next best thing. People had a hard life back in WWI days. It must have been quite the job to take care of a place that large.
ReplyDeleteCompared to today it was hard Kathy, but labour was cheap so many people would have been employed in running these big houses.
ReplyDeleteI imagine it took a small army to keep that place up...oh the orchids are amazing, and I always enjoy the desert plants. Glad it's being preserved.
ReplyDeleteSondra, the National Trust does a good job and its probably the only way that the general public can get an insight into how the gentry lived in these grand houses.
ReplyDeleteNice wee place to live!
ReplyDeleteSome great pictures especially the dragonfly, that was a winner.
Thanks Mr A those shots can be hit or miss.
DeleteWhat a wonderful place for a visit.....I will put in on my list for when I cross the border :-)
ReplyDeleteNice images too Dave...
We dont have a huge number of NT places in Wales Trevor, rpbably the biggest is Tredegar House complete with its own C&MH site.
DeleteWhat a lovely place to visit. So many different things to see and explore.
ReplyDeleteThanks John, the N T does a good job of looking after these heritage sites.
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