Famous gardener's house is up for grabs (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Famous gardener's house is up for grabs

BARNSLEY House, the former home of the inspirational gardener Rosemary Verey, has been put up for sale for around £2.25-million.

The grade II listed house and internationally renowned garden were expected to attract world wide interest after the property was put on the market by Knight Frank on Friday.

The house was built in 1697 by Brereton Bourchier and bought by the Rev Cecil and Linda Verey in 1939.

Eleven years later the house was given to David Verey, the late Rosemary Verey's husband.

Mr Verey converted stables and garage buildings into a cottage for his parents to live in. Following the death of her husband, Mrs Verey moved into the cottage in 1988 and her son Charles and his family moved into Barnsley House.

The house includes eight potential bedrooms and four bathrooms but it is the garden, laid out by Mrs Verey from the 1960s onwards, that has attracted some 20,000 visitors each year from across the globe.

The garden designer became an inspiration to green fingered enthusiasts in America, where she went to speak as the Ambassador of Gardeners.

Her gardening achievements won her the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society and Prince Charles, one of her greatest admirers, awarded her an OBE in 1997.

Along with carefully tended beds filled with plants and flowers that change with the seasons, the garden also features the knot garden, the wilderness, the Gothick Summerhouse, the potager garden and the temple garden.

The laburnum walk was planted in celebration of 25 years of marriage. Mrs Verey died last summer and her funeral at Barnsley Church was attended by Prince Charles.

Charles Verey said he and his wife Denzil, who runs an antique furniture business, felt it was now time to move on.

"After my mother died I felt that I would like to take the garden on but I'm 61 and I do have other interests.

"I'm a garden furniture designer and I have work to do in that area.

"We decided on balance that we would grab the moment and have some time to ourselves." Mr Verey said they had consulted a number of public figures about their plans and the future of the garden.

"The consensus was that although it is a very lovely garden and people have enjoyed visiting it, my mother's reputation isn't only linked to the garden.

"Her reputation is greater than the garden and they felt that we shouldn't feel guilty about selling it."

The couple plan to remain in the Cotswolds.

Mr Verey added: "I very much hope the people who come here are a family who will really enjoy the gardening adventure that is lying here waiting for them."

Head gardener Richard Gatenby said the garden was unusual because of the way it was created.

"It is special because it was created by an inspired mentor who was interested in gardening and found out by asking questions and reading books."

The house is set in 11 acres of land with two fields a tennis court and swimming pool. The sale includes Mrs Verey's three bedroom cottage and the Tuscan style conservatory which she added.

Knight Frank partner Atty Beor-Roberts said: "This is a one off opportunity to purchase a family house and an extremely special garden."