Points of Interest

There is much of interest to explore within the walled garden and beyond. The circular half-mile walk around the parkland offers lovely views of the house and of High Down, while a gentler stroll through the enchanting copse with its woodland bulbs leads to Tennyson’s bridge. Elsewhere, the mighty cedar that frames the southern approach to the house, a magnolia and a rhododendron, the latter said to be planted by the poet, continue to thrive since the family lived here.

TENNYSON’S BRIDGE

Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s original bridge, built in 1860, was a slighter structure, more rustic and vine clad, than the one you see here. Early photographs dating from around 1910 show a more solid structure with the latticework design. The bridge has been replaced numerous times through the years, although the location remains the same. It spans a section of the lane that separates the main garden from the copse, known by the old eighteenth century name of “The Wilderness”.

A MEMORIAL SUNDIAL

This Arts & Crafts terracotta sundial is designed by Mary Seton Watts, an accomplished artist and wife of the renowned painter and sculptor, George Frederic Watts. The sundial can be found in the Walled Garden.

THE WELLINGTONIA

The great Italian General and radical politician, Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882), planted a Wellingtonia following a meeting with Tennyson during his three-week stay at Brook House, the Isle of Wight home of Charles Seeley. The trunk and root system are all that remain of the tree today and it can be found in front of the House.

THE GREENHOUSE

There are references to a greenhouse in Emily Tennyson's journal. She refers, for example to the "building of a stove in the greenhouse" and again, "A. putting out of greenhouse flowers. I fix the places and.."

THE RESTORATION EXHIBITION

Discover some of the secrets revealed, and the obstacles overcome, in the five years taken to restore the Tennyson’s family home.

THE CEDAR TREE

The cedar tree is over 20 metres tall and more than 200 years old. Edward Lear, the nonsense poet and artist, famous for writing ‘ The Owl & The Pussy Cat’, sketched the tree on one of his many visits to Farringford.

THE MAGNOLIA

Every evening Tennyson would place a bloom from this beautiful Magnolia on Emily’s pillow. The tree is said to have been a gift from an overseas visitor. It continues to flower to this day and can be found next to the conservatory.

EMILY'S ARBOUR

In the eastern corner of the walled garden stands a replica of the arbour built by Tennyson for his wife, Emily. In time, the sweetly scented and vigorous climbing plants will engulf the new arbour, much as they did the original, as portrayed in Helen Allingham’s water colours.