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Forde Abbey & Gardens (Chard, England)


The next stop on my England garden tour was Forde Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery. The 1600 acre estate is known for its gardens, which cover 30 acres. I cannot recall if the house was open, but I didn't go inside. I did get some photos of the house which was an imposing structure.





A walled garden filled one side of the house - 



The grounds behind the house are vast with various garden areas separated by long walks and pathways. Water is a dominant feature. Several ponds feed into others. Forde Abbey is known for having the highest powered fountain in the country.






















(Visited May 11, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Kris Peterson said…
With so many massive estates with equally extensive gardens, garden tours must generate a lot of income for homeowners! I imagine that helps a lot with upkeep of those historic homes, though.
September 30, 2025 at 8:48 AM
tz_garden said…
I can't fathom gardening on 30 acres! But I'd love to try, :). The massively wide perennial bed is lovely.
October 1, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Anonymous said…
I had to look at my trip's itinerary to make sure I visited this place. All those fantastic gardens, castles, manor houses and estates seem to gel together as time moves on. The photo of the maze garden with the tulips finally jogged my memory: what a fun concept. Though when I visited in July it was a different flower scheme, suitable for summer.
Chavli
October 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
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