SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDENS
Nestled in the beautiful Kent countryside, just three miles east of Cranbrook, is the magnificent Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, a National Trust property since 1962.
The site was once a Saxon pig farm, originally called Saxenhurst and it has a rich and colourful history. In the 18th century Sissinghurst was used as a prison to house up to 3,000 French sailors who were captured during the 7 year war (1756-1763). Then in 1796 it was used as a poor house, with the inmates working on the farm. The site was also once used to house The Women's Land Army.
As visitors wander around the gardens and 450 acre estate today, they have one person to thank for splendour in which they find themselves. Vita Sackville-West was a poet and writer who began transforming Sissinghurst into the grand estate that it is today in 1930, when along with her diplomat and author husband Harold Nicolson, purchased Sissinghurst, then a run down Elizabethan Mansion.
The estate is open from 10am to 5.30pm, with the tower, from which visitors have wonderful panoramic views of the garden and estate, once they have climbed the 78 steps to reach the top, open from 11am to 5pm. Last entry of the day is 4.45pm.
.jpg)
Entry is free to National Trust members, as is the car park. Paying guests must pay £4 for the car park, whilst entry to the whole estate starts at £8.50 for children and £17 for adults.
Facilities include car park, plant shop, restaurant, gift shop, and coffee shop.
The address and postcode is: Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, Biddenden Road, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB
Further information can be found on the National Trust website: www.nationaltrust.co.uk
