Gardens

The Hall is set in tranquil gardens, enclosed by a spacious park. Of the gardens originally laid out in 1655, by Gilbert Clarke, only the surrounding banks and large wrought iron gates still remain.

There are several sycamores and cedars, which were planted in the 1820s by Mary Isham, a redoubtable Irish Lady, responsible for the planting in the surrounding parkland.

Sir Charles Isham, the son of Mary Isham, inherited his mother's love of gardening and it is his English eccentricity which characterises the gardens in their present form.

He planted the Irish yews to make the Eagle Walk, so called because it then led to a cage of eagles.  He also created the Italian garden in front of the Drawing Room windows and planted the climbing wisteria which still thrives today.

Sir Charles is responsible for the remarkable rockery which is the earliest alpine garden in England, rising like a ruined castle and 24 feet tall. Sir Charles peopled it with miniature figures, the world's first garden gnomes. The only remaining original is on view in the Hall.

Today the gardens include extensive herbaceous borders and shrubbery walks containing some rare and interesting plants.