Visit St Mary’s Pleasance Garden, Haddington’s Beautiful 17th Century Walled Garden
St Mary’s Pleasance is a beautifully restored 17th century Scottish walled garden in the heart of medieval Haddington. It provides a 1.6 acre haven of tranquility and garden history between St Mary’s church and Haddington House, the county town’s oldest house dating from 1648.
This is a private garden maintained for the local community by Haddington Garden Trust SCIO. The Pleasance Garden has a pleached allee of laburnum, a boxed hornbean walk, a cottage garden, a period rose border, raised herb beds, a mount, an orchard and a wild flower meadow.
Volunteer Gardeners are currently needed: whether you can spare a couple of hours or several days each month, we would love to hear from you! You can apply by email to pleasancehgt@gmail.com
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Garden
The garden occupies 1.6 acres between St. Mary’s Churchyard , Lady Kitty’s Garden and Haddington House which dates from 1648 and is the oldest dwelling in Haddington.
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History
Purchased in 1972 by Douglas, 14th Duke of Hamilton, the garden was recreated as a 17th century Scottish garden in keeping with historic Haddington House.
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Community Use
The garden can be booked for community events and for private events including weddings and garden parties.
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Garden Trust
The Trust aims is to preserve the garden for public enjoyment and to encourage the study of old Scottish gardens.
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Donations
As the garden is free to enjoy, donations can be made in boxes in the garden or via JustGiving.
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News
You can catch up on our latest news and any community events here.
Neglected Garden Rescued in 1973
The garden had been badly neglected until it was purchased from Haddington House by Douglas, the 14th Duke of Hamilton in 1972. The Duke gifted the land to the newly formed Haddington Garden Trust which manages the garden for the local community as a charity and SCIO. He became the first chairman until his early death in 1973.
The Pleasance Garden was redesigned in keeping with its 17th century roots to the specification of Sir George Taylor, a director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.