The garden at Carlyle's House

Carlyles House walled garden

At the back of Carlyle's House is a little walled garden where Jane grew flowers and herbs and Thomas grew vegetables.

A typical London garden - narrow, rectangular and enclosed by high brick walls this was one of Thomas's favourite places to relax.  

White lilac flowering in the garden at Carlyle's House
White lilac flowering in the garden at Carlyle's House
White lilac flowering in the garden at Carlyle's House

The sunny garden is laid out much as the Carlyles had it.  With low box hedging, fruit trees, grape vine, herbs, roses, and many cottage garden plants.  There is a vegetable patch with rhubarb and runner beans.  The original outside privy building is still in use.

" Carlyle wrote in June 1834: It is of admirable comfort to me, in the smoking way: I can wander about in dressing-gown and straw-hat in it, as of old, and take my pipe in peace."
- Thomas Carlyle

Lacey polyanthus in the garden at Carlyle's House
Lacey polyanthus in the garden at Carlyle's House
Lacey polyanthus in the garden at Carlyle's House