Hailsham Grange

Hailsham Gardens - East Sussex Guest House

Gardeners tend to fall into either one or two groups. Firstly there are those who are inspired and follow the concepts of Col. Johnson as exhibited by his gardener Hidcote. Secondly there are those who are steeped in the Vita Sackville-West tradition of Sissinghurst. The gardens at Hailsham Grange, East Sussex guest house fall into the second category but there is no slavish adherence to the Sissinghurst tradition. Like people each garden has its own individual personality which is governed by such things topography, soil, climate and not least the personal preference of the garden owner.

On English standards the garden at Hailsham Grange is of relatively small size being just on one acre, 4500 sq. M. in total area. What you see today has been created in the last twenty two years. In order to maximise the perceived size of the garden hornbeam, box and yew hedging has been used to create a series of separate but interelated garden areas. In the Sackville-West tradition no garden area has more than three distinct colours. Usually the plants in each garden area are limited to various hues of the same colour with a hint of a contrasting colour to give emphasis to the main colour. This has resulted in what many commentators have described as colour themed borders.

While the hedging creates a formal framework the planting within the separate garden areas as defined by the hedging is of an informal or romantic nature. This results in an interesting blend of structured formality and the softness of romantic informality.

All gardens should be designed to give pleasure and enjoyment to both the owner and guests to ensure this, there are various places within the garden where one can sit and enjoy the ambiance, and we trust that during your stay you will take full advantage of what the garden has to offer.

The garden is open as part of National Garden Scheme and for the benefit of local charities. It has also been featured on Television and in numerous national publications in this county as well as Continental Europe, North America and Australasia. Most recently the gardens were featured in Country Life June 2010.

Our guests have unrestricted access to the garden at all times and we hope that this will contribute to the pleasure and enjoyment of your stay.