The Manor

The house was recreated and made famous as the house of Green Knowe by Lucy Boston in her series of children’s books, now regarded as classics. Her son Peter’s illustrations depict many of the things in the house and garden so that visitors get the feeling of ‘walking into’ the books.

In the winter, as well as writing, Lucy Boston made many exquisite patchworks, most of which are on display as part of the guided tour. Rarely can such an important collection be seen in the house in which the exhibits were made.  The patchworks were shortlisted for the 2024 Historic Houses Collections’ Award.

The house is surrounded by four acres of garden renowned for its collection of old roses and a collection of irises containing many famous Dykes medal winners, most of them dating from the 1950s. With its large herbaceous borders of mainly scented plants the garden gives the feeling of being a cottage garden full of favourite plants in a rather formal setting of lawns with topiary coronation shapes and chess pieces in their black and white planted squares. The Manor garden has been shortlisted for the 2026 Historic Houses Judges’ Choice Award.

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