The Duchess of Northumberland is creating an ambitious public garden on her husband's ancestral home in Alnwick, England. Marrying a modern style garden with what remains of the original 18th-century design, the duchess is hoping to revitalize tourism in the area and is having some success with features like the Poison Garden and Bamboo Labyrinth...
We're in love with the idea of a Poison Garden! The grand plan for the immense estate garden was designed by Jacques Wirtz, a Belgian landscape architect. Alnwick Castle appeared in the first two Harry Potter movies as Hogwarts!
A fascinating story, read all about it in The New York Times: The Versailles of the North. Be sure to check out all the pictures in the accompanying slideshow!
Pics: Derry Moore
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I was there last week when our cruise stopped at Newcastle-on-Tyne.
The gardens are amazing, despite being overrun by loud children on the day we were there - and the garden pavillions (not shown in the article) are beautifully modern while being built on the historic stone and brick walls.
The staterooms within the castle itself were also quite grand despite the fact that one is in the midst of a complete renovation and that another has the crimson silk wall upholstery hanging in shreds in places - apparently they are in use by the family when they are in residence in the Fall and Winter, as evidenced by the family photographs and Sony Flatscreen Television in the Library.
If you ever get to that part of England, it's definately worth touring.
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I wish there were more gardens like this around where I live.
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