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Gertrude Jekyll’s walled garden

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne lies just off the northeast coast of England and houses the remains of a priory plus a small castle that was built on the island in 1550. The nearest point of the island is about 1 mile from the mainland and access is via a causeway, when the tide permits.

The island has an interesting history, but I’m going to whisk us to relatively modern times, to 1901, when the castle was refurbished in Arts and Crafts style by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Edward Hudson, editor of Country Life.

The castle has just undergone a major refurbishment, including the stripping of its interior to better reveal the quirky details of Lutyens’ work.

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Lindisfarne Castle from the Gertrude Jekyll garden, August 2017

When I was last there the work was still underway and the castle was hidden behind scaffolding and hoardings, but the little walled garden just outside was still showing off its charming colours and textures.

Jekyll was a friend and frequent collaborator of Edwin Lutyens, and she relished converting the former soldiers’ vegetable patch into a delightful garden. She cleverly gave the garden a dropped wall on the Castle side, ensuring that Edward Hudson’s guests would be able to enjoy her work whatever the weather.

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View to sea from the edge of the island

To find out more and to arrange your own visit to this historic site, check out the National Trust website.

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Copyright Debbie Smyth, 8 September 2018

Posted as part of Tuesday Photo Challenge

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