Melbourne Hall & Gardens

A Grade II Georgian country house, Melbourne Hall was once the seat of the Victorian Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, and is the origin of the name of the city of Melbourne in Australia. The house, with its broad sweeps of lawn, avenues and unexpected vistas is one of the most treasured historical gardens in the country. With more than twenty Grade I listed features in the grounds it is the best surviving early 18th Century English garden in the manner of le Notre. Lord Ralph Kerr took over running the Melbourne estate in 1987 and his wife Lady Ralph Kerr is a painter of both portraits and landscapes. Her passion for gardening has developed the garden at Melbourne in many ways. Her eye for colour and detail means that the Melbourne garden is a haven of delightful and unusual specimen trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders.

Something exciting is happening at Melbourne Hall Gardens.

Lord and Lady Ralph Kerr have been adapting an area within their exquisite gardens to house some of their quirkiest and cutest pets. The Kerr family have always been passionate about animals and they wanted to share their pets with the wider community. It’s a fantastic collection of rare breed animals. All animals can be seen within their paddocks and fed with feed bought from the entrance hut by visitors, everyday that the gardens are open.

Facilities and Access

Melbourne Hall Gardens have tried to make all areas accessible to wheelchairs, buggies and pedestrians. However, by the nature of the garden, there are some quite steep slopes and steps – although there is generally an alternative. Some paths are uneven due to tree roots and care needs to be taken. The gardeners are always happy to be of assistance whenever possible – do please ask if you require any assistance.

Public toilets are located in the Courtyard near the entrance to the gardens.

No dogs are allowed within the gardens except assistance dogs.

There is limited parking in Church Square and Castle Square.

Some of the images shown are taken by the Kerr Family.