Borde Hill

The house at Borde Hill, a mile or so north of Haywards Heath, is a Tudor Mansion which was started by Sir Stephen Borde in 1598 and substantially altered three hundred years later by Colonel Stephenson R. Clarke.

In 1999 Borde Hill was named the South East Tourism Board’s Attraction of the Year. English Heritage rates Borde Hill Gardens as Grade II with a star.

The gardens as we know and love them today were laid out in the 1890s by Col. Clarke. The first step was the creation of the South Lawn and Ha-Ha.

In late Victorian and Edwardian times it was fashionable for gentleman collectors of plants to scour Asia looking for new species to catalogue and bring back home to Blighty. The Clarke family were devoted patrons of these intrepid botanists and the Borde Hill collection grew in the first thirty years of the twentieth century into something quite special.

As a consequence Borde Hill is full of unusual and magnificent Japanese and Chinese trees. Many of them are now of course fully mature.

"...a who’s who of Edwardian botany"

The list of the plant hunters who contributed to Borde Hill is a who’s who of Edwardian botany. China, Japan, South America, the Himalayas and Australia all contributed plants to Borde Hill.

In 1965 Borde Hill became a charity and its gates were flung open to welcome the public.

What to look for at Borde Hill

Today the Borde Hill estate's 200 acres is divided up into different areas such as the Garden of Allah, the Azalea Ring, Mediterranean Garden, the Rose Garden and so on. Warren Wood and Stephanie's Glade are two areas of woodland within Borde Hill Gardens that are very popular, especially in the spring when the bluebells are out.

The acid soil means that rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias do very well here.

Other attractions at Borde Hill

Look out for Jeremy's Restaurant at Borde Hill while you're there.

Borde Hill estate is also known for horse trials and proms and regularly hosts events like sculpture exhibitions, car shows, concerts and childrens days.

Further details from the Borde Hill website