2018 Plant Fairs

Norton Priory Gardens is a fantastic day out, with excavated medieval ruins, the spectacular St Christopher statue, the lovely Walled Garden and the extensive woodland and sculpture trail.

The 2 acre Walled Garden was built between 1757 and 1770 for the Brooke family, the owners of Norton Priory. When the Brookes left Norton Priory, it became neglected and overgrown, until work began in 1980 by Runcorn Development Corporation to reclaim it.

The garden was featured on BBC TV's "Hidden Gardens" series with Chris Beardshaw.

The Walled Garden has been recreated as a typical Georgian Walled Garden. It was essentially a kitchen garden, and would have been the source of fruit, vegetables and flowers for the mansion house. Today there is an orchard, a fruit garden, a vegetable garden, various ornamental borders and the beautiful Rose Walk.

Norton Priory is home of the National Collection of Tree Quince (Cydonia Oblonga). These are dotted around the garden and the site and include 20 different varieties. The Walled Garden is also the location of a number of Norton Priory's "hidden gems", including the Ha Ha Wall, the Ice House and the Wildflower Meadow.

The plant fair is held just outside the walled garden

Entry to the plant fair is free.

The Walled Garden will be open for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) with an admission price of £3.50 (entry to the garden is optional).

A special entry rate of £2.50 is available for pre-booked groups of 15 or more people to the Walled Garden. Contact bookings@nortonpriory.org to arrange.

Nurseries that attended in June 2018:

Bridge Farm Plants from Derbyshire specialising in interesting and unusual perennials

ChickenStreet from Shropshire with a wide selection of chicken-proof plants for the garden

Hall Farm Nursery from Shropshire specialising in perennials and alpines. RHS Gold medallists including Chelsea Gold.

Lyneal Mill Nursery from Shropshire specialising in Agastache, Digitalis, Epimedium, Eryngium, Erysimum, Scabious, Verbascum and simple flowered Dahlias

Mandsand Plants Nursery from Cheshire specialising in Perennials and shrubs with an emphasis on interesting foliage which includes a good range of Heucheras, Heucherellas and Tiarellas

Mayfields Plants from Cheshire specialising in bee and butterfly friendly perennials

Meadow View Plants from Lancashire specialising in sought after perennials in the Apiaceae family, plus a choice range of Geum, Pulmonaria, Sanguisorba, Thalictrum, Aster, Hesperantha

Mynd Hardy Plants from Shropshire specialising in penstemon and hemerocallis

Orchard Furniture from Gloucestershire with a great range of teak garden furniture

Pottertons Nursery from Lincolnshire specialising in alpines, dwarf bulbs and woodland plants. RHS Gold medallists including Chelsea Gold.

SpecialPerennials from Cheshire specialising in summer and late flowering perennials.

The Gobbett from Worcestershire specialising in Syringa (Lilac), flowering dogwoods and beardless Iris

Norton Priory is less than 30 minutes by car from Chester, Liverpool and Manchester. From M56, Junction 11, turn for Warrington and follow the Norton Priory signs. From all other directions follow the "All other Runcorn Traffic" and then the Norton Priory signs.

The Norton Priory Museum Trust.
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens,
Tudor Road, Manor Park,
Runcorn,
Cheshire
WA7 1SX.

For SATNAV please use WA7 1BD

website: www.nortonpriory.org

There is free car parking.

Click to open interactive map in new window.

Norton Priory Walled Garden, Cottage Garden