The Gardens

In common with many other gardens, Penshurst is divided up into garden "rooms". The divisions are mostly made up of about a mile of clipped Yew hedges and bounded by brick walls. The Italian influences in the garden were introduced by Sir Henry Sidney but other members of the Sidney family have since travelled extensively in Europe and have influenced the garden's design over the years.

The images on this page do not do justice to Penshurst. Many of them were taken during the long, dry summer of 1996 So this is just a taste of the gardens, as seen by me over several visits. More pictures will be added from subsequent visits.

This avenue of clipped bushes leads from the Italian parterre into the rest of the garden.

The grey garden, designed by John Codrington, is full of mediteranean plants and white roses.

A row of planters - each bearing the Sidney Pheon emblem - in one of my favorite parts of the garden.

The small pond is overlooked by one of the sundials at Penshurst

The rose garden.

The classic view of Penshurst from the Italian garden towards the south front.

One of several  unusual sundials to be seen at Penshurst. This one is in the rose garden.

Penshurst viewed from the rose garden

The backdrop to the stage garden (the stage is between the two trees). The audience sits on the sloping, semi-circular mound which can be seen in the foreground.

Just a small part of the mile of beautifully clipped Yew hedge that divides the garden into "rooms".