Kiftsgate Court Gardens

Just right down the road from Hidcote is Kiftsgate Court Gardens. This garden was created by Heather Muir beginning in the 1920s. Muir's daughter, Diany Binny, came to live at Kiftsgate in 1954. She would add the half-moon pool and redesigned the white garden. She also first opened the garden to the public. Today, the tradition continues as granddaughter Anne Chambers and her husband maintain the gardens.   

Heather Muir was a friend and neighbor of Hidcote's Lawrence Johnston (their houses are within one mile of each other), and he inspired her in the garden's design. However, the two gardens differ in character and have their own unique characteristics. While Johnston's garden is laid out in strict geometric lines, Muir took a more naturalistic approach.

Muir added many heirloom shrub roses to the garden and is famous for the 'Kiftsgate' rose, which occurred from a seedling in the garden. Unfortunately, we were too early for the roses. There were a few like this beauty -

We were in time for wisteria and saw a lot of it. You saw it earlier gracing the side of Hidcote Manor and here it is doing the same at Kiftsgate -

Formal areas surround the house, including the "Four Squares" seen in the top photo and here -

Vines and roses are used to fill the wall spaces between the windows. I grow this variegated Kiwi vine, but mine has never displayed much of the pink color like this one -

I don't recall where exactly this wall and blue door was located...

More garden rooms wrap around the house -

This border leads to the Water Garden, which was once a tennis court. Anne Chambers made the change in the 1960s. For some reason, I don't have any photos of it, but the pathway leading to it is nice -

Kiftsgate is located on a hillside with a magnificent view of the Vale of Evesham below -

A pathway zig-zags down the side of the garden with more tender and exotic plants. At the bottom is the Lower Garden. You can see the main house towering above in the distance - 

The half-moon pool with a view of the valley below -

In a corner is the "Folly" -

The climb back up the path to the house is a workout, but vignettes along the way -

(Visited May 7, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy