English Garden by Gertrude Jekyll at Lindisfarne
Created on Holy Island Northumberland by famous gardening designer
May 30, 2009
Gertrude Jekyll’s collaboration with the architect Edward Lutyens produced gardens throughout Britain, Europe and North America. The Lindisfarne garden is particularly interesting, not only because of its small size but because of its association with Lindisfarne Castle perched on a rock high above it.
English Gardens - Lindisfarne Castle
Originally, the castle was a Tudor fort which was converted into a private house in 1903 by Lutyens. Its windows look down upon Gertrude’s beautiful little walled garden which has managed to survive the cold winters and the high winds which sweep in from the North Sea. She was aware of the weather patterns and designed her planting of the garden with this in mind. The garden has been altered very little and today remains largely true to Jekyll’s original design.
The Garden at Lindisfarne
Gertrude approached the creation of her gardens as an artist would approach his or her pallette. Her main concern was with creating a harmonious blend of colour and she would often put together plants which perhaps were not quite harmonious in shape but whose colours complimented each other. Her inspiration came from the traditional English country cottage garden. She seemed to prefer an informal and natural style of garden. The garden was restored between 2002 and 2006. The present planting is based on Jekyll's original plan (now held in a collection in the USA).
English Gardens - History of Lindisfarne
In the 7th century Lindisfarne was a major centre of Christianity and learning. A monastery was founded here in 635 and the monks created the illuminated Latin manuscripts known as the Lindisfarne Gospels which can be seen in the British Library in London.
Lindisfarne Priory, founded in AD635, was one of the most important centres of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. It is still a place of pilgrimage today.
Lindisfarne Mead is an alcoholic drink manufactured on the Island. It is made from honey, fermented white grapes and herbs. It is said to be the oldest alcoholic drink in the world and there are still ancient cultures who drink it. The great Anglo-Saxon classic Beowulf talks of both mead and ale and Chaucer praised mead in the Canterbury Tales.
How to Get to Gertrude Jekyll’s Garden at Lindisfarne
Holy Island (or Lindisfarne, to give it its Celtic name), can only be reached by vehicle or on foot via a 3 mile causeway, which is closed from two hours before high tide until three hours after. Tide tables are listed at the causeway itself.
Explore the North-East of England
 |
 |
 |
 |
