SOMERSET
Claverton Manor - a true
springtime exploration
by Vivienne Lewis
GARDENS
TO VISIT IN
SOMERSET
Claverton Manor near Bath –
The American Museum
There may be signs of spring this month, but the weather
is often too cold for much garden visiting. It’s good to find
places that offer a hot drink and a snack, a shop to browse
in, and also a house to explore as well.
National Trust properties fall into this category, as well
as other historic houses. In Somerset one of the most
interesting and unusual is Claverton Manor, the American
Museum near Bath.
With special exhibitions for 2010, displaying its fantastic
collection of American quilts, and an exhibition in the
Map Room, there is plenty to see in the only museum
showcasing the American decorative arts outside the
United States.
In the beautiful grounds of 40 acres for visitors to wander
Claverton Manor as well as the American Museum there’s gardens of 40
in out of a total of 140 on the estate, there are several acres for visitors to wander in out of a total of 140 on the estate.
areas showing aspects of American gardens, including
old roses and yews.
the Mount Vernon Garden, an interpretation of George
Washington’s famous garden.
There you’ll find the café, the Country Store shop, the Herb
Shop and the Gallery Shop by the exhibition gallery.
There, behind the white palings, is an octagonal garden
house, a replica of the school room used as a school for
Location: Claverton Manor, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD. Two
Washingon’s step-grandchildren. Among the box and beech
miles south of Bath off the A36, following the signs to
hedges there are trained pear trees and old-fashioned roses
American Museum.
to see in the summer, but at this time of the year there is Open: 13th March – 31st October, daily 12 – 5 pm. Last
still plenty of structure. entry to museum 4pm.
The Colonial Herb Garden is compact but has a range of Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays and during August.
herbs and seeds. Wander through to the huge arboretum,
Admission: House & grounds £8, concessions £7, children
seven acres in all, which contains a fine collection of
5-16 £4.50
American trees and shrubs and is thought to be unique
Grounds and ‘Classic American Quilts’ exhibition £5.50,
outside the USA.
concessions £4.50, children £3.50. Family tickets available,
There is an orchard full of American apple varieties, a
companions & helpers, free, and assistance dogs welcome
fernery, a cascade and a waterfall in this Historic Garden
throughout the museum.
Grade II.
www.americanmuseum.org
You can follow the Lewis and Clark trail, which later on in
Telephone: 01225 460503
the season will show a selection of the flora the explorers
found as they made their epic trip to the west coast of
North America more than 200 years ago. Saltford Farm Barn
There are some surviving parts of Claverton Manor’s There are five gardens within one on this site covering an
Italianate-style nineteenth century garden, with lawns, acre of land not far from Bath, with a woodland garden
balustrades, curtain walling, and a grotto, the work of one of its most attractive features at this time of year, the
George Vivian, son of the original owner John Vivian. trees and shrubs underplanted with masses of spring bulbs
Take a short circular walk through the old parkland and
and hellebores.
a woodland walk above the manor house before you dive Later on there will be foxgloves, ferns and Alpine
back inside the James Wyatville-designed manor house strawberries. As with any really interesting garden, it’s the
with its clothing of climbing plants, honeysuckles, clematis, variety that counts and this is one garden that is worth
16
Country Gardener
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