The Great Cloister Garth came next. For the monks in days gone by it was a place where they could walk and quietly contemplate in the fresh air. No-one steps inside the Cloister Garth now, except for maintenance. Even the grass is cut by a robotic lawnmower into neat, even lines and watering is done by an automatic irrigation system.
Continuing our walk, we arrived at the Little Cloister Garden. We entered through a sturdy wrought iron gate. In past days this was part of the infirmary and had rooms around it for aged or convalescing monks. At its centre is a fountain which dates from 1836. This garden was one of Jan’s first challenges when she took over as Head Gardener. The main horticultural problem being that the four sides have different aspects; some in bright sunlight and some permanently in shade, making choice of plants to give uniformity difficult. Ivy had taken over the walls and beds, leaving little room for other plant life, so it all had to be cleared first. The colour scheme is now either green and white or a pastel one. Yew tree cones give permanent structure and in season there are scented flowers such as Nicotiana. Depending on the time of the year, you might see Hellebores, Iris, Lavender, Foxgloves or Alliums.
It is in College Garden that Jan has established her large herb garden. It is divided into four main beds, for culinary herbs, medicinal herbs, dye plants and vegetables. Around the edge are strewing plants. Modern day residents of the Abbey are allowed to use the herbs. This area also attracts many insects to the benefit of the gardens. We paused for a welcome cup of tea and cake in the Mackenzie and Moncur ‘glasshouse’, which was built in 1929, but now needs renovating. |
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A word about Jan, our guide. She has been Head Gardener at the Abbey since 2002. Through researching the history of the gardens, she has tried to introduce planting which is sympathetic to the atmosphere and age of the surrounding buildings.
Only four gardeners work at the Abbey, so as with most gardens, keeping the space tidy and weed free is a battle. The whole place has a peace and charm about it and it’s very difficult to believe that the busy streets of London are only a few hundred yards away.
Many thanks to Jan from our members for her time, and for giving us such a delightful and absorbing experience.
When our tour finished, Anne went on to tour The Abbey itself and took these photos: