Bradenham Manor

Built in 1655 by Sir Edmund Pye, the manor overlooks the National Trust village of Bradenham with stunning views across the Chilterns escarpment. Located on the site of an earlier manor house, once visited by Elizaberh I, the gardens reflect the gradual transition of tastes and styles over 300 years of occupancy.

The most notable residents of the manor were the Disraeli family who lived here from 1829-1847. Benjamin Disraeli, Queen Victoria's favourite prime minister, later took up residency at nearby Hughenden Manor.

The property was gifted to the National Trust in 1957 but it wasn't until 2000 that work began on a full scale restoration of the gardens. With hardly any of the original garden remaining other than the unique (and largely intact) layout of terraces and ancient yew trees, progress has been challenging, often involving months of archeological research before recreating a specific feature or flower bed.

The main restorations to date include:-

• 2002-5 Victorian Summer Border.
• 2002 Main Lawn
• 2002 Amphitheatre
• 2006-8 Parterre Gardens
• 2006 Wilderness Garden
• 2007 Grass Steps
• 2007 Queen's Ride
• 2008 Dog Graves
• 2009-11 Orchard