Address: Langford House, Dolberry, Bristol BS40 5DU
Located on the edge of the Mendip Hills, Langford House is 14 miles south of Bristol and home to the Bristol Veterinary School. The early to mid-19th century house is surrounded by a 255-hectare estate. Although much of the formal 19th century gardens have since disappeared, when viewed from the house there remains the air of a gentleman’s country estate.
Originally built by John Fisher in 1826 Langford House and its land after several different owners was subsequently purchased in 1877 by Simon (Sydney) Hill who was instrumental in many of the changes on the estate, evidence of which can still be seen to this day. Maps record the drives, extensive green houses, and layout. One greenhouse remains, having been restored in the 1990’s the original iron work still in place.
A ha-ha separates the garden from the parkland. The garden contains a 100-metre-long pear arch that was installed on the site of an old glasshouse with over twelve varieties of pear including Pyrus communis ‘Duchessee d’Agoulleme’, P. ‘Clapp’s Favourite’ and P. ‘Doyenne du Comaice’. A walled kitchen garden contains a small formal pond and fountain.
In his efforts to become a gentleman farmer Simon Hill added stables a diary, and his famous ‘Bullock Palaces’ which housed his prized Red Scotch Shorthorn Cattle. The age of the trees on the current estate suggests that Hill planted many trees, evergreens which were collectable specimens at the time.
