Great Maytham Hall, 4 Maytham Road, Rolvenden Layne, near Rolvenden, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4NP, photographs taken before 2009

Details

Accessibility

https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/great-maytham-hall-tn17/

"A wheelchair can access the main garden via grass with help but the pond garden, terrace and toilets would be inaccessible due to steps.Toilet Facilities are down stairs so this should be a consideration for elderly / disabled persons. "

Brief description

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Maytham_Hall

""Great Maytham Hall, near Rolvenden, Kent, England, is a Grade II* listed country house.[1] The gardens are famous for providing the inspiration for The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The walled garden of Great Maytham Hall provided the inspiration for one of the most famous of all books for children, The Secret Garden. Its author, Frances Hodgson Burnett, lived at Great Maytham Hall from 1898 to 1907, where she found the old walled garden dating from 1721 overgrown and neglected.[6] By her own account, aided by a robin, Burnett discovered the door hidden amongst the ivy, and began the restoration of the garden, which she planted with hundreds of roses. She set up a table and chair in the garden's gazebo, and wrote a number of books there, reportedly inspired by its peace and tranquility.

When Lutyens rebuilt Great Maytham Hall he retained the old walled garden as an adjunct to the grand new brick house in the manner of Sir Christopher Wren, but landscaped the terraced lawns and surrounding parkland in his signature style, in partnership with Gertrude Jekyll, who planted his design. The gardens and grounds were managed by the Tennant family until the outbreak of the Second World War, when the estate was requisitioned by the British army. As part of the "Dig for Victory" campaign, Frances Hodgson Burnett's roses were replaced with cabbages and leeks, and the manicured lawns were patriotically planted with potatoes and carrots. A jettisoned German bomb in the middle of the former lawn did not help to improve matters, and after the war the house stood empty for many years, and the gardens were left to decline."

+ https://www.lutyenstrust.org.uk/portfolio-item/great-maytham-halls-new-display-lutyens-related-work/

Address

4 Maytham Road, Rolvenden Layne, Cranbrook TN17 4NP

Email

2025: Owner Information:

The Sunley Group

gmh@greatmaythamhall.co.uk

01580 241346

Phone

01580 241346

Website

https://ngs.org.uk/great-maytham-hall-kent-the-most-famous-garden-in-literature/

2025: https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/great-maytham-hall-tn17/

Directions

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

2025: https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/great-maytham-hall-tn17/

Transport

Amenities