Pashley Manor Gardens

There is an interesting historical link between Pashley Manor and the Boleyn family. The original house at the site was owned by Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, Lord Mayor of London in 1457 and great-grandfather of Anne Boleyn. His son, Sir William, and then William’s eldest son, Sir Thomas, who held court at Pashley in 1518, and eventually Sir Thomas’ brother, Sir James Boleyn – uncles to Anne Boleyn, each owned Pashley in turn.

Sir James sold the estate in 1540 to Thomas May, an ironmaster, who built the house you see today in 1550. This house was renovated in 1621 and the Georgian style back of the house was added in 1720.

When the current owners, Mr and Mrs James Sellick, bought the property in 1981 the gardens had been long neglected – after extensive planning, with the help of their friend, and eminent landscape architect, the late Anthony du Gard Pasley, and lots of work, they opened the garden to the public in 1992.

After winning the HHA/Christie’s Garden of the Year award in 1999 the gardens became more well-known and since then the Sellicks, with their team of gardeners, have continued to renovate and improve the gardens to create beautiful garden rooms, filled with inspiration and delights for keen horticulturalists, or simply a beautiful, relaxing, peaceful space to enjoy a day out.