The Manor, Hemingford Grey

Details

Accessibility

"There are a few parking spaces at the house for anyone who has difficulty walking and anyone who has had difficulty finding a parking space in the village."

The garden is on level ground.

Brief description

"Green Knowe is a series of six children's novels written by Lucy M. Boston, illustrated by her son Peter Boston, and published from 1954 to 1976. It features a very old house, Green Knowe, based on Boston's home at the time, The Manor in Hemingford Grey, Huntingdonshire."

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Knowe and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Manor_(Cambridgeshire) 

and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_M._Boston

https://www.greenknowe.co.uk/the-house/  "Built about 1130 by Payn Osmundsen, tenant of Aubrey de Vere. 1256 – 1490 owned by the de Grey family then, amongst others, Edmund Dudley, Henry VII’s favourite and Richard Cromwell, Oliver’s grandfather.

The beautiful Miss Gunnings, Maria and Elizabeth, were born here in the 1730s. The house had been doubled in size by their uncle. The extension burnt down in 1798.

Lucy Boston bought the house on 31 May 1939 and restored it, as much as possible, back to its Norman original.

In the mediaeval Music Room, twice a week all through the war, she gave record recitals to personnel from the surrounding airfields but mostly from RAF Wyton, sometimes to over 30 of them.

Come and feel the atmosphere of 900 years of the past held inside the metre thick stone walls, and hear the 1929 gramophone playing a record listened to by the RAF airmen during WWII.

https://www.greenknowe.co.uk/garden-2/  None of Lucy’s predecessors at The Manor had given much time to the garden so it was more or less two fields.

During the war years she planted mostly trees and shrubs. As a child she was fascinated by the topiary at Levens’ Hall so she planted eight 10” high yew plants on either side of the path to the river.

These became cones and then for the Queen’s coronation she clipped them into crowns, orbs and the dove of peace from the old sceptre.

After the war she started to garden in earnest, collecting old roses and irises with the help and advice of Graham Stuart Thomas.

Now in the front garden we have a meadow patch with fritillaries followed by marsh orchids.

The herbaceous borders are filled with plants to flower throughout the seasons.

Come and drift with the bees and butterflies in the tranquility of this garden."

Address

The Manor

Hemingford Grey

Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire

PE28 9BN

Email

diana_boston@hotmail.com

Phone

Contact Diana Boston, Telephone 01480 463134

Website

https://www.greenknowe.co.uk/ 

Directions

Hemingford Grey is 4 miles sout-east of Huntingdon just off the A14 Parking in the village

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

"The Garden is open from 11am to 5pm daily. No appointment or booking is necessary. Please adhere strictly to the government advice and observe social distancing guidelines.

THE HOUSE

The House will  be open to visitors from 17 May 2021, daily throughout the year, but strictly by appointment. Visits will be in very small groups only in order to observe social distancing guidelines. Please email or telephone in advance for an appointment.

Admission

Adults – £9

Seniors – £8

Children – £3

Family – £26 (max two adults, no limit on number of children)

Garden only – Special offer – Adults/Seniors £5, Children free

Garden only – Annual membership (unlimited visits) £12.50 per person"

Transport

"By train: To Huntingdon on the Kings Cross-Peterborough line and then by bus or taxi

By bus: There are regular buses between Huntingdon and Cambridge on the guided busway. Disembark at St Ives (Station Road/Bus station) and from there it is a short taxi ride or approxmiately a 2 mile walk from St Ives to Hemingford Grey. Unfortunately there are no longer any local buses to Hemingford Grey."

Amenities

Online Shop  https://www.greenknowe.co.uk/shop/ with Lucy Boston Books and DVDs and The Manor history and crafts.