Broughton House

Today's the day ........................ for an artist's garden

We were lucky enough to be allowed into NTS Broughton House today, for a sneak preview before it opens up to the general public tomorrow.  And this is a view over the garden from a room right at the top of the house, that is kept as a storeroom for books and pictures - so even tomorrow, it won't be accessible to most people.

Broughton House was the home of the Kirkcudbright artist, E. A. Hornel between 1901 and his death in 1933.  Hornel was a keen gardener with a passion for plants, and his artist's eye can be seen in the design of the garden.  The influence of his two visits to Japan (in 1893 and 1921) is evident in his use of water features and stone.  He collected sundials, millstones, querns, troughs, slabs and architectural fragments of all shapes and sizes which are to be found all through the garden.

All the gardens on this side of the old High Street extend down to the estuary of the River Dee, as they have since medieval times.  And, at the bottom of the garden, there is a small arbour where Hornel liked to sit, looking out over the estuary..................