Corfe Castle (NT), Corfe, Nr Swanage
In 1920, the wealthy margarine entrepreneur Thomas William Simpson purchased a property at Canford Cliffs, an area which is near to the Dorset village of Sandbanks. It was Simpsons dream to craft a unique garden, different to one anywhere else. It was his aim to create a succession of gardens, to showcase not only his interest in horticulture as a subject, but to display themed areas to resemble those which he had seen on his travels across the globe. After much deliberation, he entrusted his dream to a Mr. Middleton, who as head gardener began the process of building the magnificent gardens in Poole. Completed in 1929 at a cost of around £220,000, an equivalent to £10 million at the present time, the gardens were not opened up to the public. Today, Crompton Acres is still privately owned, however with the exception of the Christmas period, these beautiful gardens can be visited for a reasonable price.
In a late Victorian style, Compton Acres comprises of 10 distinct areas, the focus being 5 beautiful and diverse gardens to wander around and explore. These are the:
- Italian Garden
- Rock and Water Garden
- Heather Garden
- Japanese Garden
- Wooded Valley
Its most popular garden is the Italian area which offers colour throughout the seasons and has a spectacular range of statuary and a typically Italian ornamental pool. Throughout the ten acres of garden, beautiful water features add to the ambience.
In addition to the breathtaking landscape, Compton Acres also offers restaurants and shopping outlets, making it the perfect day out.
