Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath (West Sussex)
Situated on the outskirts of Haywards Heath in South East England, Borde Hill is a Grade II* listed garden.
Places to stay near here
Ticket information
Click below for more details.
Summary
- Historic Property
- Gardens
- Children's play area
- Woodland walks
- Free car parking (on site)
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Food and Drinks
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Introduction
Situated on the outskirts of Haywards Heath in South East England, Borde Hill is a Grade II listed garden that is botanically rich and has been open to the public for over 45 years.
History to the present day
In 1598 Borde Hill built by Sir Stephen Borde whose family lived in Cuckfield for generations. In 1705 it was purchased by Walter Gatland with 200 acres for £2,382. In 1893 it was purchased by Col. Stephenson Robert Clarke who built the East Wing, altered and restored the central Southern bay windows and added the present porch to the North front door. 1898 the South Lawn and Ha-Ha were created. Between 1900- 1930 the Clarke family were patrons of some of the great plant collectors who went to the Himalayas, China, Tasmania, the Andes and North America. In 1965 garden the opened to the public as a registered charity. 2005 was the 40th Anniversary of the opening to the public of Borde Hill Garden and centenary of Warren Wood.
Food and Drinks
Jeremy's restaurant is found in the garden. Also Café Elvira serve coffee and afternoon cream teas with freshly made scones as well as homemade lunch dishes such as Sussex Smokies, paninis and healthy options for children are all available next door to Jeremy’s Restaurant.
Grounds and gardens
The Azalea Ring was one of the first areas to be planted by Col. Stephenson R Clarke at the turn of the twentieth century. Whilst being severely hit in the 1987 gales, a number of unusual trees remain. The Garden of Allah was named by Sir Ralph Stephenson Clarke due to its peace and tranquillity. Originally part of the Parkland it was cultivated in the early 1920’s with rhododendrons collected by Frank Kingdon-Ward. The wildlife pond was created in 1997 with Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Jay Robin’s Rose Garden was designed by RHS gold medallist Robin Williams and planted in 1996. The Italian Garden is centred around the formal pool, and started life as the family tennis court until it was converted by Robert Stephenson Clarke in 1982.
Other facilities
The adventure playground is a an area for younger children to play safely, as well as a zip line. Woodland walks contain native hardwoods interspersed with exotic specimens from around the globe.
Arrival information and how to find us
Address: Borde Hill Garden Ltd, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, West Sussex, RH16 1XP, United Kingdom
Opening Times: March to September: 10am- 6pm (last admission 5pm) 10th September – 23rd October – weekends only. From 24th October – 4th November (Halloween Week) open from 10am, with the Garden and Parkland closing at 5pm or dusk.
Directions: By Road- Borde Hill is 1½ miles north of Haywards Heath, 20 minutes North of Brighton, or South of Gatwick on the A23 taking exit 10a via Balcombe and Cuckfield.
By Rail: Direct trains from London Bridge or Victoria to Haywards Heath (45 mins).
More photos of Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath
