Iford Manor: The Peto Gardens

Iford Manor sits at the foot of the idyllic Frome river valley. Occupied since Roman times, the site was light-industrial in nature until the demise of the wool industry around the turn of the 18th century.

The gardens were developed in the most-part by Harold Peto, who lived at Iford from 1899 until his death in 1933. The son of building engineer Sir Morton Peto, Harold was an architect and designer who designed many great gardens around Europe, drawing on influences from his many international journeys.

The gardens at Iford offer perhaps the best insight into Peto's mind, because here he could experiment on his own time, unencumbered by clients. Indeed, it was at Iford that Harold created his "Haunt of Ancient Peace", a quasi-mediaeval cloister, now used for the productions of opera and music (see www.ifordarts.co.uk).

The house and gardens sit within a farming estate run with a firm eye on conservation and ecological sustainability. Footpaths run the length of the valley providing beautiful walks through fields and along the river.

2013 Opening times
April to September: Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun, BH Mon; 2-5pm
October: Sundays only; 2-5pm