Benthall Hall

Benthall Hall, now owned by the National Trust, is a 16th century stone house with mullioned windows and moulded brick chimneys. Surrounding the house is a charming old garden.

In the 18th century Benthall Hall was the home of George Maw, one of England's foremost botanists and plant collectors. Maw, also famous for his book 'The Genus Crocus', filled the garden with the rare bulbs and alpines he brought back to England from his plant-hunting expeditions.

Some of these plants remain and in the spring the historic garden is still noted for its wonderful display of crocuses.

Beside the house are small stone terraces with roses, laid out in a design by Graham Thomas, surrounded by tree peonies, potentillas and hardy geraniums.

The old kitchen garden has crab apples and roses and climbers scramble up the walls. On either side of the lawn are fine trees including a Japanese angelica tree.