An autumn stroll around the gardens and orchards of Barrington Court, near Ilminster, in South Somerset.

A couple of days after the Autumnal Equinox, with the weather calm and warm, my wife and I visited the National Trust’s Barrington Court in South Somerset.  We have explored the Elizabethan mansion before so we decided to make the most of the sunshine and stroll around the grounds. 

Heading for the gate to the Rose and Iris Garden we passed the Herbaceous Border which was alive with bees busily working away, especially on the Michaelmas daisies.  It was quite a contrast to our own garden; we now see only an occasional bee whereas just a month ago our lavenders were bustling with them.

Bees among the Michaelmas daisies in the Herbaceous Border at Barrington Court in South Somerset.

In the Lily Garden I spent some time taking photos of Strode House and the pond.  Built of red brick in 1674 for William Strode II, Strode House was originally a massive stable block for 12 horses and 2 coaches.  It was converted into a home for the family of Colonel Arthur Lyle, a director of the famous Tate & Lyle sugar refining company, who took a 99 year lease on Barrington Court in 1920.  The Lily Garden was designed by Gertrude Jekyll and the architect J. E. Forbes, a friend of Colonel Lyle.

Strode House at Barrington Court in South Somerset.

The pond in the Lily Garden at Barrington Court.

Moving on across the South Lawn we noticed a huge lime tree standing by the entrance to the East Orchard was graced with an abundance of mistletoe.  Inside the East Orchard we sat in the shade for a while watching the acrobatic capers of a couple of squirrels, and then walked on through the arches in the neatly trimmed beech hedges either side of the Lime Walk. 

Mistletoe in a lime tree at Barrington Court.

We turned back toward the Elizabethan mansion house and arrived at the north front, the main entrance, of Barrington Court.  Taking the path around the east wing back to the south lawn I noticed the churchlike diagonal buttresses on the corners of the house – a pleasing feature.

After a couple of hours in South Somerset’s fresh autumn air it was time to head back to the car; while doing so my wife noticed some cyclamen growing in the shade beneath three oak trees.  Needless to say, we took photos.

Cyclamen, caught in a sunbeam, beneath oak trees at Barrington Court in South Somerset.