The garden at Lamb House

The house and garden at Lamb House, East Sussex — The house and garden at Lamb House | © National Trust Images/Nick Dougan

Lamb House has one of the largest walled gardens in the old town of Rye. Wrapping around half the house it provides an enclosed space, with a calm and peaceful atmosphere. It’s a beautiful and unexpected treat in the middle of the town, the perfect place to relax, pick up a book and imagine how it provided inspiration to both Henry James and E. F. Benson. Few gardens in England can boast such rich literary connections.

Discover the garden

There are places to sit and contemplate dotted around the garden and trees such as a mature mulberry add shade and shelter.

Spring

In spring, bulbs start to burst into life around the garden as it starts to fill with colour and fragrance. Later in the season, the wisteria covers the garden room wall with a stunning display of purple flowers.

Summer

In summer, the roses take centre stage. From the large white blooms of the ‘Rambling Rector’ on vegetable garden wall and the large pink flowers of ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ in the corner of the rose garden to the shrub roses in the courtyard wall border ‘Crown Princess Margareta’, ‘Eglantyne’ and ‘Absolutely Fabulous’.

Other highlights in the garden include the spikes of yellow loosestrife Lysimachia punctata in the mulberry border, the striking purple flowers of salsify Tragopogon porrifolius in the rose garden and many other herbaceous flowers, summer annuals and dahlias.

The Kitchen Garden in August at Lamb House, East Sussex — The Kitchen Garden in August at Lamb House | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Vegetable plot

The vegetable garden is a productive space, sheltered by the surrounding walls and warmed by the coastal climate. These conditions, combined with the deep, rich soil, mean that plants grow particularly well here. Vegetables include root varieties, legumes and onions alongside fruit bushes and cut flowers.

The garden in June at Lamb House, East Sussex — The garden in June at Lamb House | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

A final resting place

As you stroll round the perimeter of the garden you will also come across the graves of James’s much-loved dogs: a lovely final resting place beside the warm brick walls and sheltered by the shadow of a tall tree.

Courtyard and Breakfast Room closure

Please note that there is a small section of garden path roped off next to the courtyard while essential building works are carried out on the Green Parlour.