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.

Line-up for Sun 1 June Norton Priory:

A Love Blossoms Garden accessories, stakes, planters, garden wall decorations etc.

ChickenStreet Grasses and herbaceous perennials for naturalistic plantings

Dibleys The Houseplant Specialists: over 150 RHS Gold medals including 33 Chelsea Golds NEW

Eastoft Echeveria Tender Echeveria, Graptopetalum, Pachyphytum, Sedums & Interspecific hybrids Hardy Sedum, Delosperma and various alpine plants NEW

Hoyland Plant Centre Agapanthus, Amarines, Nerines, Tulbaghia, Dierama , Arisaema and Scadoxus. National Collection Holders,RHS Medalists NEW

Mayfields Plants Wide range of bee and butterfly-friendly cottage garden perennials.

Meadowmakers Wildflower and native tree plants and plugs

Penmere Plants Hardy, half-hardy and species Fuchsia.

Pottertons Nursery Alpines, Dwarf Bulbs and Woodland Plants RHS Gold Medalists

Primrose Bank Wide range of perennial plants. RHS Gold Medalists

Priorswood Clematis Clematis. RHS Medalists NEW

Stonyford Cottage Nursery Moist and shade loving plants, some Exotics and Alpines including Sempervivums.

The Gobbett Nursery Shrubs, perennials inc Iris, Cornus, Syringa in season. RHS Medalists

More to be announced

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 and search Norton Priory Walled Garden.

website: www.nortonpriory.org