Castle Donington Museum occupies a 17th century farm house in the village centre, and the traditional garden complements the old stone buildings. The garden is an extension to the museum for visitors to enjoy, and events are held there during the summer.
Sit in a flagstone area with seating, admiring a raised gravel area displaying objects from the museum’s collection, then head up a few brick steps on a path between a planted bed and more objects, to our large grass lawn. An unexpected sun trap, but with shade from the surrounding walls and plants, the garden is a perfect spot to enjoy a drink or treat from one of the village’s cafes.
The volunteer gardening team took over the maintenance of the garden following a period of neglect. They transformed it, redesigning and replanting many areas, and adding seating to create spaces to relax.
The formal herb garden has been restored, with a central bay tree, each quarter bed containing different herbs. The latticed seating area is surrounded by the old fashioned rambler roses Wedding Day and Veilchenblau, which are both strongly scented making it a lovely place to sit on a sunny summer day.
The garden is designed to have something to show at all times of the year, many new plants have been brought in and the structure chosen to meet needs for shape or screening. A hedge of pink Hyde Hall roses screens the gravel area, while some of the older roses are trained on support structures.
What is there to see in the garden?
As well as a beautiful space with traditional planting, you’ll find archaeological items in the garden. Many of the stones were found by archaeologists in the gravel beds alongside the River Trent, with some others coming from local buildings. A few examples are shared here, do come and see more!
This was a medieval anchor stone, used to hold a structure in place on the river bed – you can see the ridge where the rope was tied around it. Many anchor stones are smaller, rounded pebbles which held eel baskets in place in the water.
This unusual stone has Saxon carving on the side, but was a re-used piece of a Roman altar.
Two stone carved and painted coats of arms lean against a wall. They came from the gables of an inn called the Station Arms which used to be where Gasny Avenue is built now.
The pump was restored for us and if you move the handle up and down the water will begin to flow. It takes a long time to make the water start and you will realise that it was much harder than turning on a tap.