Welcome to Stately Homes

Sister of Gerald, the late 6th Earl of Bradford, and former wife of the late Viscount Cowdray, the late Lady Anne Cowdray created a magical garden during the sixty three years that she was living at Broadleas. Sadly she died at the end of May 2009, just short of her 96th birthday.

She was an ever keen and enthusiastic member of the International Dendrologists, and this is reflected in the ideas and plants that she has brought back from travels all over the world, to create her own personal wonderland that looks marvellous all the year round.

Following in her brother's footsteps there are some delightful woodland areas, as well as a secret garden, a winter garden, a sunken rose garden and finally a silver border packed with unusual and rare plants.

The garden, favourably situated on greensand, was bought in 1946 by Lady Anne. Some fourteen years later work began in earnest, creating from a wilderness a valley garden that would not look out of place in Cornwall.

Mature and semi mature Magnolias grow on each side of a steep Dell. large specimens of Paulownia, Parrotia Styrax, Camellia and Rhododendron also flourish here.

It is a garden of tireless perfectionism at its most stunning in spring when sheets of bulbs stretch out beneath the flowering trees.

Rarely seen in such quantities for instance are Trilliums, Erythroniums and Sanguinaria the North American blood root. Many more unusual trees, shrubs and perennials grow at Broadleas, you can find them in the Silver Border, the Sunken Rose Garden, the Secret Garden and the Woodland. The various parts of Broadleas combine together to make a delightful garden with plants of interest throughout the year.

In keeping with the plantsman’s tradition established by Lady Anne over the period of her ownership, the garden continues to develop with the addition of new plants and features every year.

They also offer an extensive range of plants for sale; the majority of which are propagated from the many good plants in the garden.

Opening Times - 2010:

April - October: Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, 2 - 6 pm or by arrangement for groups.

Admission Prices - 2010:

Adult - £5.50
Child (under 12) - £2.50

Groups (10+): £5

Groups Welcome (minimum 10 people).