Time to pay a visit to Quarry Bank

Quarry Bank’s gardens are a testament to the hardworking staff and volunteers who ensure the gardens always look at their best whatever the time of year.

Robert Hyde Greg, the mill owner between 1834 – 1870 was a man with a passion for gardens. He made Quarry Bank “famous throughout the country for the loveliness with which the gardens are laid out and for the perfection of horticulture as a fine art – according to his obituary at least.

Although Robert was a tough business man his softer side is revealed through letters he wrote to his fiancée Mary Philips. Before they married, he toured Europe and sent beautiful dried plants to Mary from places that he’d visited.

Robert was an enthusiastic plant collector, collecting many exotic plants that survive at Quarry Bank to this day. He even visited a leading gardener in Belgium in 1864 to add to his collection of rhododendrons.  There are more than 172 different species of rhododendrons at Quarry Bank and seventeen of these are of important historical value and Robert named many of these after his wife, children and grandchildren.

  

Whilst the the rhododendrons blossoms are on the wain and the mill closed (for renovations/improvements) there’s still plenty to see and enjoy.

  

Don’t let the steep walk down to the mill and gardens put you off.

On our visit we met one of the very helpful volunteers, Hedley, who kindly gave us a lift from the car park and back in his golf buggy shuttle.

   

Main image ⓒ National Trust. All other images ⓒ ilovemacc.com