Where community spirit, dedication and a love of gardening, have brought history back to life with dramatic effects.
Contact Details
Tintern Abbey, Saltmills, New Ross
Co Wexford.
Telephone: 0833064159
Opening Times.
April – September: 10 am – 6pm
October – March: 10 am -4pm
Admission
Adults: €5.00
Senior / Students: €3.00
Under 14 visit free.
Location
The Colclough Walled Garden is located a short and beautiful 10 minute walk through an enchanted woodland path in the historic grounds of Tintern Abbey.
The Colclough Walled Gardens is a wondrous and enchanting experience for young and old.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or a person who loves walks and the wonders of nature, this is the perfect visitor location for you.
As you walk to the Colclough Walled Gardens from the beautiful Tintern Abeey you are walking into a different world, you feel as if you are walking in history surrounded by the beauty of the Irish landscape.
The woodland path is just enchanting and full of wonder.
You are constantly reminded by the wonderful architectural features, that you are witnessing a golden age in the long and varied life of Tintern Abeey and the people who made this beautiful place a part for some of Irelands most legendry stories.
The entrance to the Colclough Walled Gardens is through the main entrance and grounds of the historic and legend soaked Tinern Abbey.
Tintern Abbey founded by The Marshal “the greatest knight that ever lived” as a result of a vow he made on his journey to Ireland with his family, praying for their safe arrival.
He vowed to build an Abbey where they landed. The Marshal always true to his word founded and became patron to one of Ireland’s wealthiest Abbeys, named after Tintern Abbey in Wales.
Tintern of the vow was to have a long and interesting history, with multiphase of history and architecture.
In 1575 Anthony Colclough of Staffordshire in England, was granted the lands around Tintern Abbey, after the infamous event in history known, as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Anthony Colclough was a soldier of the infamous King Henry VIII of England.
The Colclough Family made extensive changes to Tintern Abbey, morphing the medieval religious structure into a wealthy and fashionable home. Making this building fluid through time, adapting to the changing climate of history.
These wonderful developments and changes would include the wonderfully beautiful Colclough Walled Gardens. The Walled Garden was built in the early part of 19th century but unfortunately fell into a state of severe neglect.
The Colclough Walled Garden would have been the primary food source for the Colclough Family that resided in Tintern Abbey. It would have been a wonderful source of fresh fruit and vegetables for the family.
The Walled Garden was situated within easy walking distance for the servants that would have had to collect the fresh produce for the family dining table or flowers to decorate their extensive home.
The Colclough Walled Garden is situated on a fertile area spanning 2 .5 acres and is divided into two sections of arable land. One half is a fabulous vegetable and fruit garden.
The second is a stunning traditional flower and tree garden with a tranquil babbling brook running throughout both sections of the historic walled garden.
Due to the wonderful positioning of the Colclough Walled gardens, designed facing the sun allowed for the successful growth of Mediterranean trees and fruits.
The Colclough Walled garden contains five beautiful bridges and picturesque gravel pathway that guide you around this beautiful space. You will witness the original chequered lawns.
Though analysis the same plants, flowers, trees and seasonal vegetables, that were historically planted here have been replanted in their original positions and the gardens have been brought lovingly back to life. Watched over by the historic yew trees that have stood here for centuries.
In 2010 the Colclough Walled began the long processes of restoration. It was to become a labor of love for the community around Tintern Abbey and the results of their outstanding dedication has resulted in the preservation of one of the Ireland’s wonderfully historic Walled Gardens.
The Colclough Walled Garden is lovingly maintained by a dedicated group of local volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make this Walled Garden a wonderful experience for all who wish to visit this historic area of Ireland.
On your visit to the Colclough Walled Gardens, you are happily greeted by very helpful and knowledgeable volunteers. It is so wonderful to witness their enthusiasm and love for this special location.
On the day we visited you could buy organic vegetables and fabulous plants.
The flower garden was awash with color with a beautiful collection of perennial and herbaceous plants.
The garden leans towards the sun and it warmth is amazing. The vegetable garden has a fabulous array of organic seasonal produce and trees of many verities including beautiful Irish apples, plumbs, peaches, pear, cherry and apricot.
Your visit to the Colclough Walled Gardens will be a memory to treasure; as you walk through the woods, which are covered in wonderful wild flowers, it is like walking through a fairy realm.
It is an inspirational community project that preserves this wonderful historic site for future generations to enjoy.