The first O.C.’s trip of the year was, by far the shortest distance travelled since visits began, a mere few miles to the most pleasant South Gloucestershire village of Iron Acton, and the nearby hidden gems of the gardens of Algars Manor,  Algars Mill,  and Acton Court.

Algars Manor was initially built circa. 1600 A.D., and evolved over the years to become the impressive and appealing building which can be seen today.  The gardens spread over two acres, were created progressively by John Naish, a local hospital consultant, from 1950 onwards, to encompass a disused quarry, and more recently, replanting the woodland after the scourge of Dutch Elm disease destroyed much of the original.

Our welcoming address, and brief explanatory guide to the gardens, was given by Dr Barbara Naish, who still lives at the manor, together with her daughter and family.

There is a mention of Algars Mill in the Doomsday Book, and it was a functioning corn mill until the late 1800s, before being converted to a residential dwelling around 1920.    It is now a delightful four storey property, in a sylvan setting, with a mill race routed to, and under the building, while the river Frome bisects part of the garden. The long standing owners of the mill are O.C. and School Governor John Wright, and his charming wife Marilyn, to whom we are indebted for making the day’s visit possible.

Both properties are listed by Historic England, and the owners have combined, over a number of years, to open the gardens to the public on select days, with all proceeds being allocated to the National Garden Scheme for donations to deserving charities such as MacMillan, Marie Curie, The Carers Trust etc.    Commendably, over the years, many thousands of pounds have been donated to these worthy causes.

35 O.C.s, wives, partners, and friends set off along the paths on a warm sunny afternoon, with a potentially cooling breeze, nullified by the sheltered location of the gardens.  As always, on these very social occasions, it was good to see and update with old friends, including O.C. “icons” Willie Lorang, and Martin Tayler, and their good ladies.

The walk commences on the North and East lawns, with a range of flowers in formal beds, and a variety of trees on the periphery, adjacent to the barns, which have become a haven for wild birds.

Heading in an easterly direction, the visitor enters the Rhododendron Wood, these plants benefitting from the acidic soil.    Also thriving are eucalyptus, oaks, and a selection of small trees from Canada, Chile, China, Greece and Nepal.

The path then descends towards river level, into the Magnolia Walk, with an abundance of these and other shrubs, and a ground covering of periwinkle, daffodils, and bluebells.

A small bridge over the mill stream leads to the Riverside Arboretum, with a display of redwood, beech, spruce, and juniper, before passing through a gate to the Mill House Gardens. Here, some deft stonewalling retains the bank of the mill race as it returns to the River Frome. Also evident is a recently constructed rockery with an array of plants. 

A further bridge leads to the Poplar, and Birch Lawns, bordered by rambling rose, walnut, maple and silver birch trees, and on the southerly side, a small orchard.

A return over the bridge leads into the Riverside Walk, and the Wild Flower Copse, where poplars, hibiscus, oak, lime, chestnut, cedar and cherry, flourish in the south west facing shelter of an old quarry’ and a long, high stone wall.

Doug Lodge’s excellent photographs will give a detailed view of the very many horticultural attributes of the gardens.  Overall, the very natural layout and feel of the location, being very different from many “over manicured “contemporaries, aided by the fragrance of diverse plants and flowers, and with the adjacent road now being closed to through traffic, gives an interesting, fascinating and tranquil haven for visitors to enjoy.

 A drive of barely a mile led the party to the imposing Tudor house of Acton Court.       Although an earlier manor house existed on site since the 12th century, all that remains today is the East wing. This was built in 1535, especially for the visit of King Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn, an expensive undertaking, but one which paid dividends in the form of an instant knighthood for the head of the family, Nicholas Poyntz. There is also evidence to suggest that Sir Walter Raleigh was a visitor, some years later.

Despite the progressive demise of the buildings, extensive restoration work, during the 1990s, at least halted further deterioration, and the structure is now stabilised, but in a very original condition.  In tandem, archaeological and conservation work has discovered a large number of important artefacts which are housed in Bristol Museum.

Notwithstanding this historical largesse, the O.C.’s first move was to take a welcome cup of coffee or tea, and cakes from a delicious selection, relaxing “al fresco” on the lawn.

Simultaneously, our guide for the afternoon, complete with a tame Barn Owl, perched on gloved forearm, gave an interesting talk on the Hawk and Owl Trust, and more specifically on the owls which thrive on the buildings and gardens of the Court.  An owl can eat up to five mice or voles per day, this voracious appetite being matched by the prolific breeding timescales of the rodents, which flourish in the longish grass in many parts of the Court gardens.

The House, itself, is only normally open in June, by pre booking on the website and well worth the visit .  There is virtually no furniture, or décor, but this permits a very clear view of the many architectural features, and construction techniques.  

On the southerly edge of the house, a garden of approximately one acre is surrounded by high turreted walls, and features a mix of trees and long meadow grass.  The only formal garden is to the north of the property, with a small but neat layout, otherwise in line with the estates’ policy of encouraging wild flowers, insects, especially bees and small mammals, natural grassland is the norm over most of the 4 to 5 acres.  

Starting from the sole remaining section of the moat, a circular tour permits a view of the house from all angles.  The speed of construction in 1535, is evidenced  by the diverse range of bricks and stones, clearly sourced from whatever was readily available, and visible today due to the decomposition of the rendering     A number of substantial buttresses support the walls, and a very large “wall plate”, in this case a twelve foot oak beam, ensured the integrity of a major gable,                                                                                                                There is some discourse as to whether further restoration and updating work should be undertaken, or if the building should be left as original, a dilemma not unfamiliar to vintage and classic car enthusiasts.

A declining temperature and a chilly breeze, was the cue for a move to our final destination, the popular Lamb Inn at Iron Acton, where a good number of the party concluded the day with a drink and an excellent meal while socialising in the privacy of the pub’s function room.

A marvellous day, for which our thanks must go to John and Marilyn, plus Tracy and Bob, not forgetting Doug and his camera, and the unfailingly enjoyable company of O,C,s   

Those who joined us on the trip were:

Bob and Wendy Jennings

John and Marylyn

Nigel and Gerry Hurley  

Martin and Wendy Tayler

Doug and Sue Lodge

Mike and Maureen Wood

Dave Tooze

John Harris

Mike Griffiths

Nick and Jane Humphries

Jeff and Sandra Savage

Richard and Mary Craddy

Alan Hale

Peter Beasley

Jeremy and Jan Davis

Richard and Lynne Williams

Fred and Sue Forse

David & Shelia Evans

Tracy and Yvonne Mace

Willie and Trish Lorang

Written by Dave Tooze, May 2022