The Country Habit ~ Vita Sackville-West

"The country habit has me by the heart,

For he's bewitched for ever who has seen,

Not with his eyes but with his vision,

Spring

Flow down the woods and stipple leaves

with sun."

('Winter' from The Land - Vita Sackville-West)

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

*http://www.invectis/.co.uk/sissing/

 Sissinghurst Castle bears an ancient Saxon name meaning "Clearing the Woods".  In midieval times this land was a manor-farm.  After 200 years Thomas Baker purchased the castle land and tore down the castle and constructed a Tudor Courtyard home.  Two of the moats were raised to provide walk ways.  Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson bought this property in the 1930's. 

Sissinghurst is located in the Weald of Kent, England. The original stone manor was surrounded by three moats.  Sissinghurst had several owners and for a time was owned by the Government.  It  is recorded the castle housed French prisoners from 1756 to 1763. The National Trust took over the gardens in 1976. 

When the Nicolson's took over the castle and grounds were near ruin.  Can you imagine five years to install electricity and running water?  Long time, eh?!  The priest's house served as temporary living quarters while the cottage and stables were made liveable.

Nicolson's provided classic architectural design and Vita's romantic garden flurish balanced the garden.

* "Vita Sackville-West came to form some firm principles. The first was ruthlessness. If some thing was displeasing then change it. Second was not to be too tidy in a garden, let self-seeded plants grow where they naturally fall, wild flowers mixing with cultivated plants in a garden was not a disaster. Thirdly, have an architectural plan, a colour plan and a seasonal plan."

Vita claimed the tower for a very private writer's haven. No one was permitted to enter without a special invitation.  Castle tower anyone?  I'll take one.

The castle ruins and broken design for the gardens take us back to medieval time.  Think of moats encircling your home and the original garden scents fill your everyday world.  Candle light flicker is seen on wall and through windows.  In early morning a young maiden carries pales of fresh milk to the waiting butter churn and for drink.  Hens set in the tall grass and drop eggs to be gathered at hide and seek.   Pigs are raised to feed the family and hunter's seek deer and pheasant for the table.  Women forage the woodlands for herbs and mushrooms.   The shepherd herds the sheep to hill and dale until wool gathering.  Cloths are scrubbed clean and hung to dry by sun and wind.

The work to maintain the castle is hired out or shared by the family.  Hard work brings food to table, cares for the livestock, provides clothing, tends the garden and sweeps cobwebs from the ceilings.  At sunset a goose down bed is waiting to hold the weary workers.  After a job well done the castle rests.  Each morning red roosters cock-a-doodle-do and the new day begins.

Hospitality among neighbors and towne visits and church was the social network for the Weald of Kent, England, of medieval and victorian days.

Potagers are a kitchen garden, an ornamental one.

The old days and old ways are gone to  rest in the past.  Today the gardens are open for tour and one may dine at the restaurant, visit the coffee, or garden shoppe.

Sissinghurst front lawn.

www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/manor http://www.picturesofengland.com/

Sissinghurst

"A tired swimmer in the waves of time
I throw my hands up: let the surface close:
Sink down through centuries to another clime,
And buried find the castle and the rose ..." (V.S-W)

The pond is calling me to weave my way down the woodland path and rest awhile.  To dream of days long past and see the land as was, before it slipped into the past.

Research & Further Reading; :

Kirk Johnson

http://suite101.com/

*Article by Sarah Topp

http://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/vita_sackville_west.htm

Article by Donna Dawson

http://www.worldreviewer.com/