Longbarn Garden view of the garden from the terrace
View from the terrace at Longbarn on a spring day

The History of Longbarn Garden

Longbarn Garden is located in the Weald of Kent near the town of Sevenoaks. It is steeped in twentieth century horticultural history because it was the garden of Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. They are more well-known for their later garden at Sissinghust that is also located in the county of Kent. Longbarn was where they fell in love with gardening and Vita started writing about horticulture.

Old image of Vita Sackville-West garden writer and designer
A photo of Vita Sackville-West in the garden at Longbarn – courtesy of the owners

Longbarn Garden Today

Garden map of Longbarn gardens
Garden map of Longbarn illustrated by Christy Kate Bennett – provided by the owners

The gardens at Longbarn today are cared for by the current owners in a style that reflects and honors the history of the garden while changing things to suit the garden’s ongoing role as a family garden. The treatment is respectful of the past while maintaining a feeling of vibrancy.

Longbarn garden view of side of fourteenth century house and garden
The 14th century house leans a bit towards the garden – view from the terrace

Garden Rooms at Longbarn

View from the terrace and Longbarn Garden Kent England
View down to the valley below from the terrace – showing how the space is divided into garden rooms

One of the characteristic features of a classic twentieth century English Garden is the way that the outdoor space is divided into distinct spaces delineated by hedges, walls, and changes in level. This produces a garden that is a series of secret spaces each with its own plant palette and design elements.

The garden design at Longbarn fits into this garden model with a series of gardens clustered into about three acres surrounding a very old house. Vita and Harold enlarged the original dwelling by bringing an old ‘long barn’ from nearby and adding it as a large living space.

View down the garden at Longbarn, Sevenoaks, Kent
View across the formal parterre with clipped hedges to the much-photographed double row of Irish yews

Some of the garden rooms have symmetrical shapes and clipped hedges that increase the formal structure. Other areas are free-flowing and naturalistic like the wonderful fruit tree orchards.

Informal Garden Spaces at Longbarn

Primrose Path at Longbarn Gardens in Kent England
One of my favorite paths down a hill flanked by daffodils and primroses
The old orchard and spring flowers in grass at Longbarn Gardens
The old orchard in spring with the underplanting of primroses and fritillaries

One of the highlights of my spring visit to Longbarn was the beautiful old fruit tree orchard that had a carpet of grass interplanted with English primroses (Primula vulgaris) and snakeshead fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris).

Snakeshead fritillaries Fritillaria meleagris at Longbarn Gardens near Sevenoaks in Kent England
Snakeshead fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris) in the orchard.
English primroses in grass at Longbarn Garden Kent
English primroses (Primula vulgaris) coming up through weak grass

Learn more about Longbarn Gardens

I thoroughly enjoyed my springtime visit to Longbarn and hope to return at a different season to see the herbaceous borders and roses. If you want to find out more about the garden there are lovely images throughout the seasons on Instagram @longbarngardens and at their website – www.longbarngardens.uk.

Longbarn Garden contact information
How to see more about Longbarn Gardens in Kent, England

Bye for now gardening friends

Cheers,

Jenny Rose Carey

Jenny Rose Carey in the spring garden at Longbarn, Sevenoaks, Kent England

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