Knightshayes
Knightshayes, Bolham, Tiverton, Devon
A National Trust Victorian Gothic house above Tiverton, with Grade II* gardens of topiary, specimen trees, rare shrubs, a pool garden in the old bowling green and a walled kitchen garden by William Burges.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Knightshayes?
Knightshayes pairs a William Burges house with one of the great plantsman's gardens of the South West. The gardens were first laid out by Edward Kemp, simplified in the 1950s and 1960s, and then filled with remarkable plants by Sir John and Lady Heathcoat-Amory, who were both awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour for their work here. The result is a Grade II* garden of extensive topiary, specimen trees and rare shrubs, with views down over the Exe valley.
Near the house the topiary and formal terraces set the tone. The old 19th-century bowling green was remodelled with advice from the American designer Lanning Roper, and it now makes a calm, enclosed pool garden. Beyond, paths lead into the woodland garden, where rare shrubs and specimen trees give something unusual to find at every turn. Away from the house are the stables and the walled kitchen garden, both designed by Burges, and a rare stické court built in 1907.
Gardeners will want a notebook for the woodland garden, which shows how to combine rare shrubs with specimen trees, and for the kitchen garden, where walls and layout are as much part of the design as the crops. The house itself is worth an hour: it is the only medium-sized Burges country house ever built, and the National Trust has restored much of his decoration, including a painted Drawing Room ceiling found in 1981 after being boarded over since 1889.
What to see
- The extensive topiary around the house and terraces.
- The pool garden made from the old bowling green, remodelled with advice from Lanning Roper.
- The woodland garden of rare shrubs and specimen trees.
- The walled kitchen garden and stables, both designed by William Burges.
- The rare stické court, built in 1907.
- Views from the garden down over the Exe valley towards Tiverton.
Knightshayes through the year
- spring
- Spring is the time for the woodland garden, when many of the rare shrubs are in flower among the trees.
- summer
- The walled kitchen garden is at its most productive, and the topiary and pool garden look crisp and calm.
- autumn
- Specimen trees colour up across the garden and the woodland walks are at their most atmospheric.
- winter
- The topiary and the structure of the walled garden carry the winter months; check the National Trust website for current opening.
The story behind the garden
Benjamin Dickinson, a banker and mayor of Tiverton, built the first mansion here in the 1780s. In 1868 his descendant sold the estate to Sir John Heathcoat-Amory, 1st Baronet, whose family had made its fortune in lace and who chose the site for its view of his factory in the Exe valley. He commissioned William Burges, building the new house from 1869, but dismissed him in 1874 over cost and style and brought in John Dibblee Crace for the interiors.
Edward Kemp designed the gardens, which were simplified in the mid-20th century. Sir John Heathcoat-Amory, 3rd Baronet, and his wife, the champion golfer Joyce Wethered, then transformed them, with advice from Lanning Roper. During the Second World War the house was a convalescent home for the US Eighth Air Force. The National Trust took over in 1972 and has opened Knightshayes to visitors since 1974.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Keen plantspeople who want to see rare shrubs and trees, and anyone interested in Victorian Gothic architecture.
- Getting there
- Knightshayes stands on the hillside above the Exe valley at Bolham, just north of Tiverton in mid Devon.
- Before you go
- The house, gardens and kitchen garden are spread out, so allow at least half a day to see them all. Check the National Trust website for current opening times and tickets.
Source: Wikipedia: Knightshayes Court
Questions about visiting Knightshayes
Is Knightshayes National Trust?
Yes. The National Trust has owned Knightshayes Court since 1972 and opened it to the public in 1974. The house is Grade I listed and the gardens are Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Who designed Knightshayes Court?
The architect William Burges designed the house for Sir John Heathcoat-Amory, with building starting in 1869. Burges was dismissed in 1874 and John Dibblee Crace took over the interiors, though the Trust has since restored much of Burges's decoration.
Who made the gardens at Knightshayes?
Edward Kemp laid out the original gardens. In the 20th century Sir John and Lady Heathcoat-Amory transformed them with rare plants and advice from Lanning Roper, and both received the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour for their work.
Is there a kitchen garden at Knightshayes?
Yes. The walled kitchen garden was designed by William Burges, who also designed the stables. It is a short walk from the house and well worth including in your visit.
What is the stické court at Knightshayes?
It is a court built in 1907 for stické, a racket game related to real tennis. Stické courts are very rare, which makes it one of the more unusual buildings on the Knightshayes estate.
Garden features
Location
Knightshayes, Bolham, Tiverton, Devon
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