Kentchurch Court

Kentchurch Court is considered to be one of the most important historic houses in England. It is also the ancestral home of the Scudamore family.

Nestling under Garway Hill in the Monnow Valley, Kentchurch Court has been in the Lucas-Scudamore family for almost 1,000 years. The current house dates to the 14th century although the family can trace its roots back further to 1042, when. Ralph Scudamore came over to Herefordshire from Normandy, building a castle in Ewyas Harold for Edward the Confessor.

Kentchurch Court forms part of a wider estate covering some 5,000 acres. It is first and foremost a family home, run by Jan Lucas-Scudamore and her family, who are the current custodians from a long line of Scudamores that have lived in this famous house.

Whilst still a private estate, the gardens and house are now open to the public on specific days during the year. The house and grounds are available for private functions.

Throughout the winter, our head gardener, Tristan Gregory will continue working in the Rhododendron Wood restoring the original water feature to provide another peaceful haven for the garden visitor.

The Gardens
The gardens at Kentchurch Court have developed over the years since John Lucy Scudamore inherited the house in 1815. Much of the 25 acre gardens roots can be found in the picturesque landscape style, popular during that period.

The Rhododendron Wood
Under a canopy of mature trees, rhododendrons and azaleas, planted by Jack Lucas Scudamore in the late 1950s, provide for the rhododendron connoisseur an interesting collection, flowering from February through to May.Terraces, bridges, cascades and dams have been discovered to the north of the garden.

The Walled Garden
The recently created borders in the walled garden house a comprehensive collection of geraniums, digitalis, nepeta, rudbekia and many other plant families. There is always something new to see from the first hellebores through to the last of the asters.

The Vegetable Garden
To the south the terraced lawns lead to a mature apple orchard, under planted with alliums and tulips. Herbaceous borders open out on to a working vegetable garden providing produce to the house throughout the year.

To encourage pollination of the vegetables, sweet peas, roses and clematis are grown throughout the vegetable plots. Together with supporting structures these plants help to create a pleasant environment both to walk through and work in.

Home made cakes, tea and coffee available.