Moongate, West Green House Garden

West Green House is a National Trust-owned house and garden near Hartley Wintney and Hook in Hampshire.  Although owned by the National Trust, it is run by the lessee.  The 18th century house is not open to the public, but the gardens are well worth the visit.  

There is an Alice in Wonderland theme here and there, and the garden includes formal areas, a water staircase, woodland glade, topiaries and ornamental features, a lake, and a unique aviary housing  bantams and chickens.  There are stunning greenhouses which can be hired for events, though I am not sure how anyone could stand the heat!  The property is also known for its summer season of Opera, performed in the gardens.    

After the National Trust gained ownership of this property in 1957, the first tenant was Lord Alistair McAlpine.  Politician, property developer and author, McAlpine was a descendant of the McAlpine Baronets, who made their fortune in the Construction Industry.  An advisor and confidante to Margaret Thatcher, he was treasurer of the Conservative party and later its Deputy Chairman.  In 1990, as his tenancy of the house was coming to an end, the forecourt of the house was bombed by the IRA.  The damage was so widespread that the Trust considered demolishing the house.  Instead, they carried out repairs to the external part of the house.  In 1993, acclaimed gardener Marilyn Abbot purchased a 99 year lease on the property and has continued the internal repairs and transformation of the garden.  It is now run as a private garden (although still with free entry for NT members).  

More pictures can be seen on my Flickr album.