ボートンモンチェルシーの洞窟・トップ7

A visit is always worthwhile

There is no castle or large country house here, but there are some interesting buildings. The site of Sissinghurst Castle Garden was once a Saxon pig farm, it would originally have been called 'Saxenhurst', where 'hurst' meant forest. The Tudor buildings were used as a prison for up to 3,000 French sailors captured by the British during the Seven Years' War, between 1756-63. For months, the prisoners were held in horrible, smelly conditions, in 'cells' with little access to fresh air, clean water or adequate food. The sailors called Sissinghurst 'le chateau', hence the inclusion of 'castle' in the name, although this is not a direct translation. (National Trust)

Describing Sissinghurst Castle and Garden is not easy. Words like historical, poetic, iconic, beautiful, colorful, breathtaking almost come close to reality. It is a sanctuary dedicated to beauty. Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a now world-famous garden in a very unique way.

Worth the high entrance fee, the gardens are a dream in every season and very well maintained, the tower is worth climbing (and you can see Vita's study) The shop is great, the café has... Hmmm... potential.

A National Trust garden. Currently £17 per adult, parking £4. Do what we do and become a temporary member, you save a lot of money if you visit several buildings or gardens and also a lot of parking fees 😉

Sissinghurst has a long and interesting history; from its origins as a Saxon pig farm, a prison in the mid 1700s and then as the home of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson who bought it in the 1930s and transformed the garden. Today the National Trust own and manage the house, castle and estate. The main castle and gardens are paid entry for non-NT members, but you can explore the estate without paying. The NT café and shop near the visitor centre at the entrance is free to enter and worth a visit.

Maybe obvious to others, but because some of the signage was missing/hidden when we visited didn't realise that the public footpath intersects with the castle grounds which is private and which you must pay in order to use. The grounds are very pretty, but the entry ticket seem very expensive to me. You can still get nice views of the castle and grounds from the public footpath as well.

The wild goats are no longer