Wiltshire VCH Summer Event

WVCH annual summer event at Seend Manor 2025.

Our annual summer event this year was held in the gardens of Seend Manor Friday the 4th July, kindly hosted by the owners, Amanda and Stephen Clark. We were fortunate with the weather, which was a blessing after the downpours of last summer, and it was a glorious evening.

Image of quadrant representing China.

The walled garden, of approximately one and a half acres, is divided into quadrants representing countries important to Amanda and Stephen: England, Africa, China and Italy. They were assisted in the design by Julian and Isabel Bannerman who are primarily responsible for the design of the garden and many of its structures, including the River God Fountain, the Grotto, the Cottage Orne and the Loggia.

Image of quadrant representing Italy.

Outside the walled garden there is still much to see, such as the beautiful cottage garden, a vegetable garden of raised beds and a gothic ruin folly which stands next to a panoramic view towards Salisbury Plain.

Seend Manor itself dates from the 1760s and was built, together with the stable yard, for Ambrose Awdry IV, who styled himself ‘gentleman’ and whose family had made their money in the cloth industry. The Manor was built as a hunting lodge and place of entertainment. Ambrose Awdry died in Boulogne escaping his debtors.

Gil Alder