Higham Park House and Gardens Page 1 Of-2

Higham Park,
Bridge,
Canterbury,
Kent,
CT4 5BE
Tel: 01227 830830
Fax: 01227 030830  A
e-mail: l1igh.a.mbar£<@a,0L.00.m
website: 
When Amanda Harris Deans and Patricia Gibb first visited the almost derelict Higham
House in 1994, they had no idea that this house would become for them a labour of love
consuming all their waking hours. One of England's most beautiful country houses, fronted
by a magnificent four columned neo-classical facade in Portland stone, its past can be
traced back to the 14”“ century. Although it captured their hearts, it was in a parlous state
when they first saw it, with crumbling masonry, collapsed ceilings, dry rot in the roof and 25
acres of neglected undergrowth which had once been a beautiful garden. Amanda and
Patricia pooled their resources and to their surprise their modest offer was accepted. The
house was theirs and the concept of leisure disappeared from their lives.
Gradually the pair, whose gardening knowledge was
minimal, have laid out and restored acres of formal
gardens, embellishing them with rare plants in complex
patterns. Among the delights of the garden is the
replacement of garden follies, such as the attractive
Classical Temple in the Peto designed Yew hedged Italian
Water garden and a beautiful stag on a most appropriate
base. Colour and delightful scents now abound from the
W huge drifts of golden daffodils in early spring, followed by
the pink hues of 2,500 tulips and alliums, through the richness of summer until the leaves
fall in the splendour of autumn.
Inside, the task of restoration was equally challenging.
Patricia and Amanda have turned their hands to most
trades as they have painstakingly scratched out the thick
paint deposits masking the fine detail of the plaster
mouldings, ground off the cement covering the Portland
stone floor of the hallway and replaced the tiles blown off
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