Not a lot of people know this but.... I have a great affinity with walled gardens. From Inverewe to Stackpole I must have known them all. Perhaps it’s the soft red Victorian brickwork or the plants in military straight lines. Perhaps it was a love created by my old dad who’s idea of gardening was “tallest on the left, shortest on the right” with mechanically straight lines and everything a machete length apart.
He used that razor sharp tool for everything from rat killing to tree-felling. It had hung on his belt from Burma to East Africa and became his sole gardening tool.
I love the old slate roofed potting sheds where terracotta pots are piled in rows and the smell of sackcloth. Even the workers seem of a similar age and you can imagine them with their clay pipes and old woollen jackets.
By accident, the other day, we found the organised and well-tended walled garden at Slebech Hall. A huge stately home outside Haverfordwest. A South facing slope of glory. Built originally from slave-trading profits that Nathanial Philips dragged out of his Jamaican sugar plantation.
For God’s sake don’t tell the Woke brigade or they’ll be there with their placards and clenched fists!
Another love of mine is ancient churches in any state of repair especially the ones built on the profits of the slave trade!
The two islands that lie in the upper reaches of the Cleddau are also important. One, known as Dog Island is an ancient pet cemetery. Graves date back to the 1800’s and headstones range from simple slate to carved timber.
The other island once contained a crypt where the pickled hearts of the Knights of St John that had died in battle and in the Crusades were interred. Spooky stuff.
Right, I’ve been serious for long enough. Any more of this and I’ll be writing books about garden benches! Still, makes a change from that “Budgie the Helicopter” book amongst others! Have these semi-royals got nothing better to do?
That is all apart from our future Queen Kate’s photo book. ”Hold Still” which documents the 2020 Pandemic. Now that’s talent not some half arsed book about a garden bench with poorly drawn cartoon people!
She seems to have inherited the Queen’s love of photography. But then....haven’t we all!
And hot off the press, a note to all those Froggie matelocks sailing towards OUR Channel Islands.
“Don’t forget Trafalgar”
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