Thornton Hall Gardens

Thornton Hall Gardens The three distinct walled gardens belong to a Grade 1 Elizabethan Hall and include a vegetable patch,

Homemade lunches including sandwiches, quiche, salad and afternoon teas including a selection of homemade cakes and cream scones will be available by Davina and David Lovegreen

There are no picnic facilities

Group bookings available on request

Wheelchair friendly

Plants for sale

We will be supporting the following charities: The Sick Children’s Trust and Great North Air Ambulance

GARDEN OPEN TODAY 10am - 4pm.Postcode DL2 2NBMorning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas available in the Bowes Tea...
10/06/2026

GARDEN OPEN TODAY
10am - 4pm.
Postcode DL2 2NB

Morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas available in the Bowes Tearoom

Further details see our web site
www.thorntonhallgardens.co.uk

We have lots of seats around the gardens to allow you to take your time and ponder.Plenty of inside seats as well as out...
09/06/2026

We have lots of seats around the gardens to allow you to take your time and ponder.
Plenty of inside seats as well as outside seats around the Bowes Tearoom.
Gardens Open TOMORROW 10am - 4pm

Echium Pininana AGM commonly known as giant vipers-bugloss or the name I prefer tower of jewels.Endemic to the Canary Is...
06/06/2026

Echium Pininana AGM commonly known as giant vipers-bugloss or the name I prefer tower of jewels.

Endemic to the Canary Islands and commonly seen in the Scilly Isles and Channel Islands not normally seen as far north as Darlington, it clearly loves its spot here in the garden at the top of the hot border beside the peach tree.

A biennial or triennial that grows as a leafy rosette for the first one or two years it then shoots up a very dramatic, massive flower spike 2-4 metres high and consists of tiny blue funnel shaped flowers that are loved by the bees, they were even on the plant this morning at 7.30am.

It is monorcarpic so dies after flowering. However it self-seeds prolifically meaning new seedlings will pop up around the garden ready to continue the cycle.

We have had the echiums in the gardens for many years now but often struggle to get them through the winter as they do not like winter wet and are susceptible to wind damage hence a sheltered position is needed for this show-stopping plant.

Many thanks to all our intrepid visitors last Wednesday let’s hope for more sunshine next Wednesday.

Garden looks amazing for the time of year with so much colour do hope you can join us for tomorrow’s open day 10am - 4pm...
02/06/2026

Garden looks amazing for the time of year with so much colour do hope you can join us for tomorrow’s open day 10am - 4pm.

Lupins, irises, roses and ………….. we look forward to welcoming you - coffee is brewing and we have hot and cold sandwiches, salads and best of all a selection of homemade cakes see you tomorrow

So much to see in the garden at present as last weeks sunshine and this weeks rain has certainly moved the garden forwar...
02/06/2026

So much to see in the garden at present as last weeks sunshine and this weeks rain has certainly moved the garden forward.

The peonies with their gorgeous big blousy flowers have begun to open along with the first roses and we even have a very early delphinium in full bloom. Lupins and Irises are still competing well in the colour stakes.

Our next Open Day is tomorrow (Wednesday) from 10am -4pm so why not come and join us.

Davina and her very efficient team will have the kettle on and will be offering hot bacon and sausage sandwiches, salads, homemade cakes and sandwiches.
Pre- booked Afternoon Teas are available by e mailing Davina, her e mail address is
[email protected]

Afternoon Teas can make a very unique birthday/anniversary present or are just a lovely way to treat a loved one for a memorable day out

Beautiful, elegant irises flourishing in the sunshine yesterday with such an array of colours.Did you know they are name...
28/05/2026

Beautiful, elegant irises flourishing in the sunshine yesterday with such an array of colours.

Did you know they are named after the Greek goddess of the 🌈 and appear in almost every colour except bright red.

Do you have a favourite?

Wow what a great first Garden Open Day we had yesterday.Thank you to all of our wonderful visitors who braved the intens...
26/05/2026

Wow what a great first Garden Open Day we had yesterday.
Thank you to all of our wonderful visitors who braved the intense heat to visit us, we really do appreciate your support as it takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes for yesterday to happen, your kind comments mean a lot to us and we do appreciate them all.

I have a lot of thank yous this morning so here goes

Firstly to our Stallholders who offered a wide array of garden plants, garden sundries and wildlife products many going home with almost empty vans. Their talent and dedication is very commendable.

Thank you to Davina and David Lovegreen and their exceptional team who keep us very well fed and watered with delicious homemade food.

To who has taken lots of photos of the gardens recently including the ones posted today.

To Richard and Clare who help me make the gardens what they are.

Lastly to my very supportive family, husband Mike, Dad Peter, Mum Rozetta, children Tory and Will, Auntie Maureen and Uncle Mick who do all the jobs on Open Days from sitting at the gate, to selling plants and car parking and a special thank you to Joseph my 8 year old grandson who acted as porter taking numerous barrow loads of plants to visitors cars.

We look forward to welcoming both old and new visitors to our next Open Day on Wednesday 3 June from 10am- 4pm.

Address

Staindrop Road
Darlington
DL22N

Telephone

+447713508222

Website

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