Photo source: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this place
Morland House stands in the village of Morland in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, and has belonged to the Markham family since 1828.
The house itself is closed to the public but the gardens open every day of the year, dropping through several levels from formal lawns down to a beck-fed pool and a Victorian rock garden carved from an old quarry.
Stone steps, a wooden footbridge and a cliff-top walk link the different sections on a circular route back to the croquet lawns.
Historic Houses members can visit the gardens free of charge with a valid membership card.
History
The Markham family have owned Morland House since 1828, and the gardens visible today reflect the tastes of successive generations who shaped them over almost two centuries. The lower garden's rock formations and grotto were created out of a disused quarry during the Victorian era, turning an industrial scar into an ornamental feature fed by Morland Beck.
Gardens & grounds
The gardens descend through formal lawns, a walled rose garden, a beck-side rock garden with fountain and grotto, and a cliff-top walk, with snowdrops in January through to herbaceous colour lasting into October.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Appleby Rail Station (5.5 miles)
Gardens open to Historic Houses members every day of the year; public admission £5 (children under 12 and members free). Check official website for specific seasonal hours.
Nearby properties
Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill
View Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill on heritage mapClifton Hall
View Clifton Hall on heritage mapCountess Pillar
View Countess Pillar on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Morland House there are 2 historic properties, including 1 historic building and 1 historic house, across Historic Houses and National Trust sites.
Within 10 miles of Morland House there are 14 historic properties, including 4 historic buildings, 4 historic houses and 2 castles, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and Churches Conservation Trust sites.
Within 20 miles of Morland House there are 27 historic properties, including 10 historic buildings, 7 historic houses and 4 castles, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and National Trust sites.
Facts
A Victorian quarry turned into a rock garden with a grotto and a working waterfall, in a house still lived in by the family who bought it in 1828.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Cumbria, England
- Visit duration
- 1-2 hours
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