Sissinghurst Castle

Garden

Vita often wrote of Sissinghurst: 'The heavy golden sunshine enriched the old brick with a kind of patina, and made the tower cast a long shadow across the grass, like the finger of a gigantic sundial veering slowly with the sun. Everything was hushed and drowsy and silent but for the coo of the white pigeons...'

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Library

This photograph was taken in the 1940s and shows the room Vita and Harold made their library-cum-sitting room. Prior to this the room was used for stables. Heavy cart horses and hunters would have been walking in and out of the wide doorway.

Find out more about the library

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The Tower

Vita's work room is in the Tower. It is where she spent much of her time writing. In 1940 Vita wrote to Harold: 'The only nice thing that comes out of war is that we now have a guard on top of the tower. In a steel helmet and rifle he looks most picturesque over the parapet'.

Prisoner of War exhibition

Leased to the government during the Seven Years War (1756-1763), Sissinghurst was used as a prison camp for over 1000 captured French sailors. Opening in late Spring 2011 and drawing on new research and documentary evidence, this new exhibition will explore what life was like for  sailors imprisoned 250 years ago.

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The estate

The Sissinghurst Castle estate is 460 acres of beautiful Wealden countryside. Looked after by our team of rangers, it's a fascinating place to spot native wildlife all year round. It is a joy for walkers and horse riders alike. Our tenant farmer, John farms the land and rears Sussex Cattle and Romney sheep.

Find out about the latest sightings of wildlife at Sissinghurst

© Sissinghurst Castle, National Trust

Vegetable garden

The vegetable garden was granted organic status by the Soil Association in January 2011 and is open to the public between May and September. Don't forget to visit our polytunnels and look out for fresh produce to buy on the plot.

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The Granary Restaurant

Sited in the old farm granary and refurbished in the winter of 2010, the Granary Restaurant is delighted to offer table service. Our menu changes with the seasons and uses fruit and vegetables grown in our vegetable garden, as well as meat and eggs farmed by our estate farmer John.