Anthea and I visited Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire last week. We had seen the gardens before in September so we were interested to see what they had on show in April.
The Castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII. Henry himself, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Elizabeth 1 and Richard III have all played a part in Sudeley?s story. King Charles 1 found refuge here during the Civil War, when his nephew Prince Rupert established headquarters at the Castle.
Before showing the planting, here are three shots of the ruins of part of the castle. These 15th century buildings were ruined on the orders of Oliver Cromwell.
The 15th century chapel was also damaged and desecrated by Cromwell?s men but the exterior is much as it was in the 15th Century
The restored interior is largely the creation of George Gilbert Scott, who, together with J.D. Wyatt, worked on it from 1858 to 1863. The workmanship is exquisite. There is a monument to Queen Katherine Parr (died I548), designed by George Gilbert Scott, completed in 1862. Elaborate ogee crocketed canopy above an alabaster and marble tomb-chest; on it her exquisitely carved white marble effigy by John Birnie Philip, 1859.
Much of the spring planting followed a dark red to purple theme
In other parts of the garden there was yellow
A few more random shots
Finally I have unearthed some shots I took in September 2002 so I post a few below to give an idea of the September planting.
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That?s all folks!
Well not quite all. We stayed at an excellent B & B in Adlestrop and I quoted a lovely poem by Edward Thomas to George. He suggested I put it on the forum, so here it is: -
Adlestrop
Yes. I remember Adlestrop?
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was late June.
The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Adlestrop?only the name
And willows, willow-herb, and grass,
And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,
No whit less still and lonely fair
Than the high cloudlets in the sky.
And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
The railway station no longer exists.
