Nymans, in the sussex weald, was created before the first world war to prove that many supposedly tender plants could grow outdoors in sussex. Messel bought the fine house at nymans in 1890 and set about creating a great garden in the enormous 600 acre estate that came with his new home messels son, leonard carried on his work and under his ownership nymans took on the more romantic feel which defines it today. Today it is one of englands most inspiring gardens. Beautiful location with a fascinating history nymans. Although the garden was opened to the public in the 1930s, it suffered much damage in the great storm of october 1987. Nymans gardens and house haywards heath all you need. Nymans gardens and house haywards heath 2020 all you need.
It puts nymans and the messel family in historical context with other well known local sussex gardens and their owners. Weinmannia is another chilean plant, rare in cultivation, that thrives in the shelter of our walled garden. A garden lovers home for all seasons, with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins. The gardens became renowned through one of the members of the family called ludwig ernest wilhelm leonard messel. Jan 22, 2020 history has it that ludwig settled in england and bought the nymans estate which he later transformed into a place for family life and entertainment, with an arts and craftsinspired garden room. Nymans was the home of the talented and creative messel family. Kew it has been killed over 536 eucllvphia and over again by frost, and even against a wall does not succeed well. May 09, 2016 posts about garden history written by nymansgardenblognt.
Wealthy german stockbroker ludwig messel purchased the 600acre nymans estate in 1890 and began the creation of what is now one of englands most inspirational gardens, with fabulous views across the sussex countryside. Inspired by the wooded surroundings he created a garden with plants collected from around the world. Dicksonia antarctica planted along the outside of the forecourt wall nymans. Oct 26, 2014 top marks to nymans for providing a firstrate day out. The gardens are yearround beautiful, and the house part housepart ruins is charming. Nymans garden in hand cross, west sussex discover the. According to mr comber, of nymans gardens, the fruits require fourteen orfifteen months to mature. Nymans is an english garden to the east of the village of handcross, and in the civil parish of. The ruined manor house on the nymans estate in handcross, haywards heath, west sussex, on the day the gardens were opened as a national trust property, 27th march 1954. Mr herrington is constantly responding to the gardens heritage and, as he says, working to keep alive the real tradition of wild origin and species collection. Nymans gardens and house haywards heath 2020 all you. Nymans seems to have been a medieval estate named for an otherwise forgotten family called le nynweman in the early 14 th century. Gardens england west sussex nymans garden the garden was started by ludwig messel in 1890 and looked after by his family after his death. Nymans, ansty and staplefield 160 historic england.
History nymans house and its surrounding estate are named after robert nyuweman, who held land in the handcross area during the 14th century. Details of land ownership before the 18th century are vague. London to nymans gardens 5 ways to travel via train, line. Destroyed by fire in 1947, much of the house survives as a garden ruin although the remaining part which was rebuilt is open to the public. The garden was developed, starting in the late 19th century, by three generations of the messel family, and was brought to renown by leonard messel. The new christmas childrens trail has just opened at nymans and its so clever. Biddulph grange 3 4 biddulph grange takes the visitor on a. Stunning collection of subtly fragranced magnolias in springtime. Our specialist conservator will check the condition of each book and, if necessary, will make custommade book shoes to place them in. We loved the gardens and extensive walks we highly recommend the millennium walk. Superb cafe nymans gardens and house, haywards heath. Relaxing harp music peaceful birds sounds, stress relief music forest light duration.
Nymans gardens a warning re major refurbishment at this site as we are local, we visit the gardens on a regular basis to enjoy the formal gardens, the woodland walk, the shop and garden centre and refreshments from the cafe. The book contains valuable pictures of the messel familys mansion and the gardens in the past, and botanical drawings of magnolias, camellias, and rhododendrons named after the members of the messel family. Visits are booked in between monday to saturday but arent available on bank holiday mondays. London to nymans gardens 5 ways to travel via train. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. A if the bbc4 series left you wanting to know more, this elegant garden history book enables you to go forward and enter into dialogues with many of the gardens you visit. Since then i have been back several times and will continue to do so throughout the season changes. The property went through various hands, the gatland family building a house on the site of the present one sometime in the 16 th or 17 th century, before the it all ended up in the 19 th century with one george harrington, who rebuilt the house and enlarged the. Although it affords some amazing views out over the arboretum, the wider estate and beyond, during most of the year you may not find too many visitors dwelling here. Nymans forms one of a group of gardens in the sussex weald which were created before the first world war and are still beautiful today. In this book stephen lacey paints a vivid historical and horticultural picture of the individual gardens, placing them firmly within the context of gardening history in britain.
Our colour souvenir book will help you make the most of your visit. Filed under garden history, nymans nursery, summer borders. Synopsis a national trust guidebook for visitors to national trust properties that covers history, horticulture, garden history, history of art, architecture. Nymans is a gorgeous english garden attraction located in handcross, sussex. The property went through various hands, the gatland family building a house on the site of the present one sometime in the 16 th or 17 th century, before the it all ended up in the 19 th century with one george harrington, who rebuilt the house and. Right at the far end of the gardens here at nymans you will find a spot we call holly corner. One of the national trusts premier gardens, nymans was a creative retreat for the artistic messel family. An outstanding 20th century garden set around a romantic house and ruins in beautiful woodlands with splendid views across the high weald, nymans is a series of experimental designs with spectacular planting and beauty all year. The nymans collection are plants propagated by the nursery team at nymans, often from plants seen in the garden, thus enabling visitors to take home a little piece of nymans. When, in the late 19th century, ludwig messel bought a house and. On his death in 1916, nymans was inherited by his son, colonel leonard messel and his wife maud, who again rebuilt the house and. This halfterm have fun at the popup pumpkin patch, go on a pumpkin hunt or explore the garden with an autumn spotter activity. A garden for all seasons, with rare and unusual plant collections, set around a romantic house and partial ruins. In the late 1800s ludwig messel bought the nymans estate in the sussex high weald to make a dream family home.
Nymans is an english garden to the east of the village of handcross, and in the civil parish of slaugham in west sussex, england. There are 10 giant frogs to discover dotted about the garden, each one has a name and an outfit associated with dancing e. Here at nymans this year we have covered numerous christmas trees with hundreds of metres of festive lights, both inside the house and out in the gardens. Inspired by the wooded surroundings he created a garden. History has it that ludwig settled in england and bought the nymans estate which he later transformed into a place for family life and entertainment, with an arts and craftsinspired garden room. In autumn dramatic shows of vibrant native tree colour precede winters structural form where the garden is filled with pockets of perfumed daphne. I first went to nymans in august 20 to attend a photographic course and this is a place with lots of great subject matter for the keen photographer, not least the beautiful gardens and the stunning ruins. Nymans is one of the national trust gardens that due to the dedication of the messel family, the national trust and the continuity of the garden staff has up to now retained a more individual and specialist interest for plant. Nymans garden, in sussex is one of the national trusts finest gardens.
The history of the development of the estate was brought to life by our guide, who had many intriguing stories to tell. A brief guide to the messel family, the house and the garden. Principal building nymans listed grade ii sits on the level crest of the ridge and towards the southern end of its gardens. Exuberant floral displays, captivating views and stunning plant collections are designed to impress, while its rooms, corners and archways offer intimate and secret places in which to relax. Last year we created a new border for chilean plants in the walled garden and we have some new plants to add to our collection this year including escallonia x stricta harold comber and luma apiculata nana which was a. Rome2rio makes travelling from london to nymans gardens easy. Nymans is closed to help restrict the spread of coronavirus. The national trust has the finest collection of gardens in the united kingdom. The rose garden, created by maud messel in the1920s. The sprawling garden property was developed during the late 19th century and has plants from all over the world as well a plant center. Top marks to nymans for providing a firstrate day out.
It is a largely twostorey building of somerset stone, with projecting wings to the southeast, southwest and northwest and with walled entrance courtyards on the east and west fronts. Nymans gardens national trust, handcross ticket price. In 1890, nymans was purchased by ludwig messel, who extended the house and, influenced by sir edmund loder at leonardslee qv and william robinson at gravetye qv, laid out the structure of the present gardens. Nymans gardens and house haywards heath all you need to. View across the forecourt garden from the dovecote. In its reductionist form, nymans is a mostlyderelict house in the weald of wessex surrounded by restored gardens.
Gardens and house with a fascinating history tripadvisor. Nymans shop includes one of the largest plant centres in the south east region selling a wide range of plants and garden related items. Arthur hellyer remarked that it is a collectors garden, yet it is also a designed garden. Find all the transport options for your trip from london to nymans gardens right here.
The garden showcases yearround colour and interest with rare and unusual plant collections of national significance. Youll need to book your groups visit in advance on 01444 405250. Shirley nicholson gives a full picture of the messel family and history of the nymans garden, as well as some description of wakehurst place. Nymans book collection continuing on the theme of conservation, this january well continue a multiyear project to monitor and protect our extensive book collection. There are lit trees by the roadside, near the main entrance building, in the tea garden, and as you can see from the picture above, in the forecourt garden. Nymans garden in west sussex is one of britains great horticultural wonders, and with its relativelynew head gardener only the. A national trust guidebook for visitors to national trust properties that covers history, horticulture, garden history, history of art, architecture, social history, natural environment, and conservation. Gardens to visit 2020 has all the details you need to plan your visit to nymans. On your groups arrival youll be met by a member of our team wholl give you a quick, personalised introduction to the garden and house. Nymans garden in west sussex is one of britains great horticultural wonders, and with its relativelynew head gardener only the fifth in over 120 years now bedded in, george plumptre paid a visit. The house is nicely furnished with original artefacts and furnishings and staff are very knowledgable as to its history and features. Please be aware that during closure this page wont be monitored. Jun 17, 2018 the ruined manor house on the nymans estate in handcross, haywards heath, west sussex, on the day the gardens were opened as a national trust property, 27th march 1954. When, in the late 19th century, ludwig messel bought a house and 600 acres of land at nymans he promptly commissioned the fashionable architect ernest george to extend the existing early 19thcentury villa with a huge conservatory and an italianate tower.
A late c19 and early to mid c20 informal and ornamental plantsmans garden, laid out by the messel family. A history of nymans garden in sussex, now in the care of the national trust, from its first planting by ludwig messel in the 1890s, to the present day. How nymans was created ludwig messel was a wealthy stockbroker, originally from germany. Book your tickets online for nymans gardens and house, haywards heath. On his death in 1916, nymans was inherited by his son, colonel leonard messel and his wife maud, who again rebuilt the house and further developed the gardens with a wide range of newly introduced plants, particularly those from the southern continents brought back by harold comber. It contains a map, is packed with stunning images of the garden and houseand includes the history of nymans and the messel family. Nymans gardens the pond in the open land viewed from the lime avenue.