Chelsworth Open Gardens

Overview

Chelsworth is a small village of about 70 houses sitting on the north bank of the river Brett in one of the most beautiful, and almost entirely untouched, parts of Suffolk.  The village is very old. Documents in the British Museum record King Edgar giving the village to Queen Aethelflaed in 962, and perhaps its greatest blessing is that, architecturally at least, time seems to have passed it by. Indeed, photographs from the 1860s show the many thatched and wattle and daub houses, its lovely bridge, and its well-known pub looking almost exactly as they do today.

For over fifty years on the final Sunday in June this small village has opened many of its gardens to the public to raise funds for Chelsworth’s Grade 1 listed Church. With at least 20 of the residents’ gardens open to view, many other country style attractions such as morris dancers, a tractor run, music, trade stands and home made teas this is a lovely relaxing summer’s day out.

We will leave it to a first time visitor to describe their day…“what a wonderful event the Chelsworth  Open Gardens were today. We came and thoroughly enjoyed it – what an array of fabulous gardens in such short distances of each other.  We were blown away with the care and loving attention that has been bestowed upon so many gardens, and thrilled at the opportunity that the generous folk of Chelsworth afforded us, to be able to explore their gardens. Thank you very much.”