East LambrookSouth Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5HH

East Lambrook Manor is a fine, handsome Listed Grade II* Somerset Hall house with mainly hamstone and brick elevations under a tiled roof. Probably dating to the 15th century with later alterations and additions in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the accommodation is spacious and arranged over two floors. On the ground floor are three characterful reception rooms with fireplaces, exposed ceiling timbers, a fine plank and muntin screen, timber panelling and stone floors. Also on the ground floor is a well fitted kitchen with lovely old hamstone fireplace and Aga, a breakfast room, utility room, reception hall and office. On the first floor are five bedrooms, a charming principal bedroom with part vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace, bedroom two with fireplace, three further bedrooms, two bathrooms and one shower room.

Outside
The delightful and diversely planted cottage garden at East Lambrook Manor is justifiably listed Grade I owing to its association with the renowned plantswoman and gardening writer Margery Fish (see historical note).

The gardens, which are open to the public for nine months a year, were designed to provide year-round interest and are laid out as a series of carefully considered garden rooms. Principal areas include: The Terraces, a series of island beds designed to look good from all sides; The Silver Garden, home to silver-leaved plants of contrasting texture and shape; The White Garden, with its magnificent magnolia and davidia (handkerchief tree) covered in white bracts in May; The Lido, with white flowering wisteria and moisture-loving plants; The Ditch, whose banks are lined with snowdrops in February; The Woodland Garden, with multi-stemmed Himalayan birches and an understorey of shade loving plants including hellebores. There are many climbing and shrub roses and also several areas of lawn with mature trees including gingko, mulberry, Judas trees, a tulip tree and many productive apple trees. To the front of the house is a separate paved garden and pedestrian gate to the front door from Middle Street.

Historical Note
Margery Fish worked for newspaper magnate Lord Northcliffe from 1912 and became secretary to Daily Mail editor Walter Fish, whom she married in 1933. In 1937 they decided to find a house in the country and settled on a 15th century manor house in the quiet rural Somerset village of East Lambrook. By then in her mid-forties, she had never shown the slightest interest in gardens and was a complete novice, yet she was about to embark on her second career, eventually becoming one of the most influential figures in gardening in the 20th century. While the cottage garden style was apparent at Hidcote and Sissinghurst, these were gardens that required a lot of paid gardeners but, with labour scarce and expensive after the Second World War, she developed a style of gardening that was in tune with the times, creating a grand cottage garden on a domestic scale to which anyone could relate. The garden at East Lambrook Manor was made famous through her many books and articles and she changed gardening from a pastime of the wealthy to a passion for the whole population. So great was her influence on gardening that the garden, which has changed very little over the years, was given Grade 1 status by English Heritage in 1992.

Nursery
The Margery Fish Plant Nursery is well known for cottage garden plants, interesting perennials and snowdrops. Comprising a gravelled area with bespoke display tables and sales shed, polytunnels, a large potting shed with office, stock beds and areas for the cultivation of plants. There is vehicle access from Owl Street and car parking. A large visitor car park is situated opposite the garden entrance in Silver Street.

Malthouse
To the north west of the Manor House is the fine old stone Malthouse, with its café/tearoom, the impressive main Malthouse Gallery, the Studio and the Margery Fish Room (used for teaching horticultural courses). This building has a multitude of possible uses with cloakroom facilities, storage areas and workshop.

Purchasers' Note
East Lambrook Manor is not being sold as a business. The fixtures and fittings in the Malthouse could be available by separate negotiation as could the display tables in the Nursery. Also garden ornaments are not included within the sale price.

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