Stroll round Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

On Friday lunchtime I revisited Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. I just love these beautiful Baroque gardens which have recently been restored. They are so quiet and peaceful and, apart from seeing a few gardeners by the entrance when I arrived, I didn't see a single person as I strolled around - perfect solitude and sheer bliss!I could almost have been transported back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when these gardens were at their peak.

Some photos of the courtyard at the entrance to the gardens.





This is Lady Bridgeman's Garden which, according to the guide book, is planted in the "Carps Back" style. The layout of the garden was copied from a 1726 engraving by Henry Beighton.



Here are some photos of My Lady's Borders where all plants were grown in the period when the gardens were first created.









This little courtyard is called the Melon Grounds



The Green House built around 1729.







Flower borders adjoin the North Orchard.







Doorway leading to the "Extra Gardens" which are outside the main Walled Garden and contain ponds, orchards, a wildflower meadow and a small wooded area.



The North Pond, home to Great Crested Newt, is now surrounded by lush vegetation and you can hardly see the pond itself.



A view from West Pond along the West Claire-vole towards Castle Bromwich Hall. Last year we attended a moth and bat evening at the Gardens and we saw loads and heard loads of bats at this particular area.



The New Orchard contains several old mulberry trees.






The orchard trees were full of ripening apples and pears.





Bridge leading to a walk through a small copse to the South Pond.



Door leading to the South Kitchen Garden where many old varieties of vegetables are grown. I sat for a while on a bench overlooking the kitchen garden and soaked in the atmosphere. I really must remember to bring a book next time and spend longer here.










Ripening berries on a rowan tree. The rowan trees in our garden have developed berries but they are still very green.



The Maze - exact age not known but it is believed to have been added to the garden in the nineteenth century. It is a straightened mirror image of the Hampton Court Maze trapezium shape according to the Guide Book and has camomile lawns at the centre.





The Summer House





Herb Borders and the area of the Garden known as the Lower Wilderness





There are lots of paths in the wilderness area - all calling out to be explored.



The Archery Ground - CBHG Trust arrange concerts and plays here in the summer.



A Parterre located just past the Summer House



This photo shows some new trellis and remains of what was once a Gazebo.



This is an area of the Gardens known as the Upper Wilderness.







Saw quite a few butterflies whilst walking around - large and small whites, speckled wood, comma, small tortoiseshell and painted lady.

The bumble bees were enjoying the lavender flowers.





A very worn and tattered painted lady.



I really loved this unusual plant.






I hardly saw any birds today whilst I was wandering around just a few wood pigeons, blackbirds and a magpie. I really must go on a birdwatching trip next week.

Here is a view of the side of Castle Bromwich Hall. The Hall is not owned by the Trust and so you cannot visit the interior. It was recently on the housing market and I am not sure if it has been sold but no photos of the front of this impressive Hall as it was covered in scaffolding.



Close to the Hall and Gardens is the Church of St Mary and St Margaret which contains a "church within a church". More on this in a future blog posting but I have to admit the church door looked well and truly locked!!!!



Sorry for such a long post and I am afraid I have got rather carried away with the amount of photos!!