As an Arts and Crafts house, the garden was designed in conjunction with the house in 1914, laid out by Oswald Partridge Milne. The Nuffield’s made minor changes to reflect current fashions, rather than any major re-modelling.
A garden to enjoy
The four-acre garden, much like the house, isn’t extravagant. It was created for the personal enjoyment of the Nuffields who both loved to spend time outdoors.
In particular, it was a favourite spot of Lady Nuffield who took on the role of ‘gardener-in-chief’ working alongside three full-time gardeners.
Take your time in the gardens
Take your time to look around all the areas of the garden. Go on a short walk through the woods and meadow, which offer a great contrast to the gardens that are nearer the house.
Opposite the garage, where Lady Nuffield’s car is stored, hidden behind a conifer tree, is a little seating area overlooking the meadow. A perfect sun trap!
North Garden
Wander around the paths lining criss-crossing through a combination of lawn and mixed beds, which are still in the original, irregular bed shapes with brick edges.
The shrub borders in this area of the garden were laid out in their current state in the 1960s, and are slowly being renovated to restore the views over to the meadow.
The lawns
Enjoy three different lawns at Nuffield Place. The Red Oak Lawn is directly behind the tearoom, and is so called because of the large American Red Oak that is planted on it. Running across this lawn is also the reinstated Purple Plum avenue, bearing lovely blossom in spring and deep purple leaves until late autumn.