Ford Green Hall

Ford Green Hall is a seventeenth century house complete with period garden. It was home to the Ford family for almost two centuries. The hall is designated a museum with an outstanding collection. The rooms are richly furnished with original and reproduction textiles, ceramics and furniture. The museum runs a range of award winning organised sessions for schools - Ring for more details. Children can try on costumes and try their hand at using a drop spindle.

The garden was planted in 1996 to recapture the 17th century style of gardening. The herb beds illustrate the importance of gardens in the 1600s by showing us how plants were used for magical, medicinal, domestic, culinary, cosmetic and textile purposes.

Ford Green Hall has two knot gardens. These are low hedges planted in a decorative shape that mirror a design used in the timbers of the Hall. These knot shapes were popular in the 17th century as gardening for pleasure was a new concept. Also, planting in such strict designs showed man's dominance over nature. The best time to see the garden is in the spring and early summer while the plants are in bloom.

There is a dovecote at Ford Green Hall which was built in the early 18th century as a status symbol and to house doves as a source of meat. Until recently this magnificent building has been off limits to the public. However, The Friends of Ford Green Hall have received funding from the Local Heritage Initiative - a partnership between The Heritage Lottery Fund, Nationwide Building Society and The Countryside Agency to reopen the dovecote. Ford Green Hall and a group of local volunteers have been able to clear out and survey the dovecote, create text panels in both the dovecote and the garden and host events for visitors to enjoy.

General Information:

• Tea room
• Small shop
• Nature reserve