Garden Visits
Private group visits (min. 6 people) by appointment or visits via Invitation to View/Historic Houses Association offer a house and garden tour followed by afternoon tea.
Call 01752 862494 or Message us to book your visit
Prices:
Admission: adults £12, children (under 12) free
Freshly baked Devon cream tea: £8
Thorn Gardens
The historic garden will celebrate its centenary in 2020 and covers an area of 10 acres. It comprises a level central terrace, on which the house, lawn, and formal walk are sited enabling wheelchair access. Above is an area of mainly natural woodland. Steep terraces and paths which fall towards the river are planted in a natural style with an eclectic selection of trees and shrubs and offer wonderful views of the river below. The maritime climate allows many tender plants to flourish. Thorn has an outstanding collection of rare trees and shrubs, many planted at the beginnings of the present garden in the 1920's.
Front Courtyard
Approaching the house, the Front Courtyard offers spectacular views of the River Yealm and Dartmoor to the northeast which form an impressive backdrop to some interesting trees and shrubs
Rear Gardens
On entering the main garden via the Wisteria clad side of the house, a long vista leads the eye over a wide flat lawn towards the Rose Garden and formal walk. The garden is a unique example of a garden 'transplanted', a replica from William Arkwright's palatial estate at Sutton Scarsdale. Notable are the four great Italianate urns known as the 'Trentham Vases' originally acquired by Richard Arkwright from Trentham Hall (Staffordshire). The Formal Walk leads through to the Rose Garden and on to the Long Walk between formal beds towards a decorative iron gate. This was also moved from Sutton Scarsdale and offers wonderful views over the River Yealm and across to Newton Ferrers.
Terrace
A terrace path runs parallel to the formal walk and connects the house to the furthest part of the garden, giving a birds-eye view of everything below.