Great Dixter and its Glorious Gardens

Deep in the tranquil, rolling countryside of East Sussex, close to the Kent border, lies Great Dixter, one of the county's smaller and more intimate historic houses.

Built in the middle of the 15th century and later restored and enlarged by Sir Edwin Lutyens, Great Dixter is a popular tourist attraction as well as a family home. These days this fine Wealden hall-house is owned and cared for by Olivia Eller and her uncle Christopher Lloyd, the gardening writer. It was Christopher's father, Nathaniel, who instructed Lutyens in 1910 to make major changes to Great Dixter, which at that time was in a poor state of repair. His main task was to clear the house of later alterations and, typically, the work was undertaken with great sensitivity.

But Lutyens didn't stop there. While all the restoration plans were beginning to take shape he and Nathaniel Lloyd seized on another opportunity to improve and enlarge the house. A complete timber-framed yeoman's hall at Benenden in Kent, scheduled for demolition, was skilfully dismantled piece by piece and moved to Great Dixter, adding an entire wing to the house.

One of Great Dixter's most striking features is the magnificent Great Hall, the largest surviving timber-framed hall in the country. Visitors never fail to be impressed by its medieval splendour. The half timbered and plastered front and the Tudor porch also catch the eye. The contents of Great Dixter date mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries and were collected over the years by Nathaniel Lloyd. The house also contains many examples of delicately fashioned needlework, which were completed by his wife Daisy and their children.

However, a tour of Great Dixter doesn't end with the house. The gardens are equally impressive. Christopher Lloyd has spent many years working on this project, incorporating many medieval buildings, establishing natural ponds and designing yew topiary. The result is one of the most exciting, colourful and constantly changing gardens of modern times. As with the house, plans were drawn up to improve the gardens, and here Lutyens was just as inventive. He often used tiles in a decorative though practical manner, to great effect. At Great Dixter he took a chicken house with crumbling walls and transformed it into an open sided loggia, supported by laminated tile pillars.

Beginning in Northiam, the walk heads round the edge of the village before reaching the house at Great Dixter. Even out of season, when the place is closed, you gain a vivid impression of the house and its Sussex Weald setting. Passing directly in front of Great Dixter, the route then crosses rolling countryside to join the Sussex Border Path, following it all the way back to Northiam.

While you're there

Travel a mile (1.6km) or so along the A28 to take a train ride on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. The railway, which opened in 1900, ran from Robertsbridge to Headcorn and was used mainly for taking farm produce to market, and for bringing in coal to drive machinery and for household fires. The coal yard at the station is still in use. The line closed to passengers in 1954 and to goods in 1961. Northiam station reopened in 1990 through the efforts of the Challenge Anneka television show.

Where to eat and drink

The Crown and Thistle at Northiam serves fish and chips and a range of good home-cooked food. There is also a Sunday carvery. When Great Dixter is open, you can buy soft drinks and basic prepacked snacks from the gift shop. There is also a picnic area.

What to look for

Walk briefly off the route to visit Northiam's parish church. Not much is known of its early history, though part of it dates from the 12th century. Most of the chancel is modern. Have a look at the church clock which was repaired and restored through the kind generosity of parishoners. A victory peel of bells rang out over the village on 8th May 1945 - VE Day - and the names of the six ringers are recorded inside the church.