Chelsea Flower Show
2004
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May 26th after breakfast we headed out of London to visit Emmetts,
Chartwell and Ightham Mote.
Emmetts charming and informal garden is at the highest point in Kent
and was laid out in the late 19th Century, with many exotic and rare
trees and shrubs from across the world. There are glorious shows of
daffodils, bluebells and azaleas in spring. In May bluebells spread
like a surreal carpet of mauve under the trees and amongst the
shrubs, the effect of which is nothing short of magical. The blooms
of the rhododendrons and azaleas in the South Garden create yet more
drama as they light up the green backdrop with flaming torches in
shades of orange and carmine, magenta and cerise.
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Chartwell, family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until the
end of his life. The magnificent views over the Weald of Kent, the
terraced and water gardens, rose walks, lake and Marlborough
Pavilion were so dear to Churchill that he once declared 'I love the
place - a day away from Chartwell is a day wasted.' The house
contains exhibitions of Churchill's life and personal effects.
Everyone agreed when we visited before that this place was so
inviting, you could move right in and make this your home...and we
absolutely loved the dining room...it was in green and white and
faced out onto the rolling landscape and hills.... the library with
its boxes of Churchill cigars sitting on a table, one cigar
balancing on an ashtray, as if the statesman has just left the room.
A wonderful place to visit, so full of history ... the house is just
a living memorial ... many pieces of sculpture, awards, uniforms,
medals, gifts, furniture. To stand on the terrace with its sweeping
views over the Weald and the garden's wide lakes; to stroll under a
pergola dripping with grapes and past waterfalls splashing into
secluded pools, stocked with plump golden orfe, was wonderful. Both
Churchill and his wife Clementine were keen gardeners: he even built
a little summer-house for his daughters, named Marycot after his
youngest, Mary. You can see the garden studio - a substantial
building - with its easel and chair, paints and brushes neatly laid
out, with many of his paintings on display.
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We then proceeded to the beautiful moated manor house of Ightham
Mote, near Sevenoaks. A superb moated manor house, nestling in a
sunken valley and dating from 1330. A small hump-backed stone bridge
crosses the moat to the old wooden door. The house is built around
three courtyards and despite many later alterations the house has
kept its medieval appearance. This is mainly because additions were
made using Kentish ragstone and local oak and were sympathetic to
the ancient building.
In 1521 the manor house was purchased by the great courtier Sir
Richard Clement. He was anxious to display his allegiance to the
Tudor court and the oak bargeboards in the cobbled courtyard are
carved with the Tudor rose of England, the fleur-de-lis of France
and the pomegranate of Granada, the emblem of Catherine of Aragon.
The window of the Great Hall has the original 16th century stained
glass showing the Tudor rose and the Aragon pomegranate. Sir Richard
also added the long half-timbered room on the first floor. This was
originally intended to be a gallery but was later converted into a
chapel. The arched wagon roof was painted with badges and emblems in
vivid colours to imitate a tournament tent. There is also 16th
century stained glass in the windows.
The drawing room across a landing from the chapel has a marked
change of style and atmosphere. A magnificent Jacobean fireplace
painted in black and gold fills one end of the room and the walls
are hung with hand-painted 19th century Chinese wallpaper which
gives the room an exotic feel. Ightham, like Kent itself, is
renowned for its apples and orchards. One variety, Flower of Kent,
is reputedly that which fell on scientist Isaac Newton's head: it
has been growing here since the 17th century.
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