Photo: Hole Park by Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this place
The gardens at Hole Park, near Rolvenden in the Kent Weald, were laid out in the 1920s by the great-grandfather of the family who still owns the estate.
The house itself is Grade II listed and remains a private family home, not open to visitors, but its fifteen acres of gardens are.
Spring brings a Bluebell Wood rated among the finest in England, followed by swathes of wild garlic in a valley named for the plant.
Access to the gardens comes through Historic Houses membership, which covers Hole Park among its member properties.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
The gardens were created in the 1920s by the current owner's great-grandfather, and have stayed in the same family since. The gardens have won recognition beyond the county, taking Visit Kent's Garden of the Year award in 2016.
Architecture
The house is Grade II listed, though it is private and not shown to visitors, so its architectural detail is less documented than the garden layout around it. What can be seen are the formal structures of the grounds: clipped yew topiary and walled enclosures.
Worth knowing
The garden has produced its own named cultivar, the late-flowering agapanthus 'Hole Park Blue', found nowhere else.
Gardens & grounds
The fifteen acres open to the public move through formal lawns and walled gardens near the house to meadow and woodland beyond, with the Bluebell Wood and Wild Garlic Valley as the main spring draws and strong autumn colour from trees chosen for the display.
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Rolvenden Rail Station (KESR) (2 miles)
Open seasonally from April to October; check official website for specific seasonal dates and times.
Nearby properties
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden View Sissinghurst Castle Garden on heritage mapSissinghurst Castle
View Sissinghurst Castle on heritage mapSmallhythe Place
View Smallhythe Place on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Hole Park there are 4 historic properties, including 2 gardens, across National Trust and Historic Houses sites.
Within 10 miles of Hole Park there are 9 historic properties, including 3 castles, 2 historic buildings and 2 gardens, across National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.
Within 20 miles of Hole Park there are 27 historic properties, including 11 historic buildings, 6 castles and 3 historic houses, across English Heritage, National Trust and Historic Houses sites.
Facts
A century-old family garden in the Kent Weald with its own named agapanthus and one of England's best bluebell woods.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Kent, England
- Visit duration
- 2-3 hours
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