History of the Gardens
The history of Abbotsbury is tied closely with the creation of the monastery that once dominated the village and the Fox-Strangways family. In 1541, the abbey lands were leased to Sir Giles Strangways, who converted part of the old monastery into a mansion.
The Gardens Today
After the great storm of 1990, a major restoration project has been underway. Many new exotic and unusual flowers have been introduced to this fabulous Dorset Garden. The Gardens is currently curated in a way to provide the visitors with an immersive subtropical garden experience.
The Garden is a mixture of formal and informal flowers, world famous for it’s Camellia groves and Magnolias. Noted in Dorset for its Rhododendron and Hydrangea collections and the charming Victorian Garden.
You may also like to visit Abbotsbury Swannery, the Abby Farm and St Catherine’s Chapel.