CARPENTERS, dating from the 1700's used to be the workshop of the village carpenter
until the l930's. Now it is a comfortable home in a spacious garden. We will welcome
you with a cup of tea - either in the garden on a warm summer's day, or in the drawing
room with its log fire in winter. The garden is our chief pastime, along with the
vineyard, and making our guests feel welcome and comfortable.
The garden is just under an acre, sloping gently from the house down to a sunken
lane, across which is a further half acre of vineyard, beyond which is an open view
to Ham and Chiselborough hills. The garden is enclosed by hamstone walls gradually
being covered by the small daisy - Erigeron karvinskianus (how nicely that trips
off the tongue!). Mike and Christabel have planted a number of unusual trees and
shrubs to give structure and colour and to complement the double herbaceous borders,
where early summer roses, pinks and violas give way to vivid reds, yellows and oranges
of late summer, with wine reds and scarlets of Acers and Liquidamber lighting the
autumn. Older plantings are the "pudding" yews along the bottom wall which give form
and interest all year round
The vineyard is just across the road
