2021 Plant Fairs

All events are subject to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Please follow us for latest updates. Please check event status before travelling.

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Possible Pop-Up Fairs:

If the situation improves we will schedule in some pop up events. Watch this space!

Norton Priory Garden

Runcorn WA7 1SX

Sunday 16th May 2021

Times: 10am - 4pm

Free entry to fair and woodland walks

Free parking

Dogs on leads welcome in the fair (not in gardens - sorry)

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.

A separate charge applies if you want to enter the garden. Whole site entry (gardens and museum) tickets are also available.

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

Nurseries and Artisans confirmed:

Amorosa from Leicestershire: Up-cycled and recycled garden ornaments

Bridge Farm Plants from Derbyshire: a wide range of hardy, herbaceous perennials: Unusual varieties as well as cottage garden favourites, a small election of shrubs and other plants.

ChickenStreet from Shropshire: perennial grasses, native species, and easy care herbaceous perennials

Hall Farm Nursery from Shropshire: garden plants, perennials, woodland plants, herbs and many other plants which are not widely available. RHS Gold medallists. RHS Partnership Nursery.

Mayfields Plants from Cheshire: bee and butterfly-friendly cottage garden perennials

Meadow View Plants from Lancashire: Wide range of perennials

North Staffs Hostas from Staffordshire: Hostas, Hemerocallis, Ferns, Hedera, Geums, Carex Grasses. National Collection of Hosta.

Orchard Furniture from Gloucestershire: High quality teak garden furniture

Penmere Plants from Cheshire: Hardy and Species fuchsia

Pottertons Nursery from Lincolnshire: Alpines, Dwarf Bulbs and Woodland Plants. RHS Gold medallists including Chelsea Gold

SpecialPerennials from Cheshire: Perennials all grown in our bee and butterfly friendly garden

The Gobbett Nursery from Worcestershire: Shrubs, perennials inc Iris, Cornus, Syringa RHS Medallists

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

Articles:

Norton Priory: The Quince-Essential Garden (from our 2016 newsletter)