Hexham Bed And Breakfast: A Garden With Grand Designs and Grand Piano

Lovers of fine cats and fine music have a treat in store in the grounds of bed and breakfast.

I often find that the most interesting gardens reflect the personality of their owners along with their tastes and obsessions, and this is particularly true of Thornley House in Allendale Hexham.

Here, Eileen Finn runs a bed and breakfast business that is described as "A B&B for lovers of fine cats and fine music". The love of all things feline is made manifest throughout this country garden. Eileen's cats are very special, being a pair of Maine Coons - enormous, lynx-like creatures with silky coats, their bushy tails longer than their bodies. The gentle giants of the cat world, they only  mature at four or five  years old.

Eileen settled in Allendale in 1979 after eight years teaching English in Mexico City. She had travelled throughout South America, a continent that is not always politically stable. In Peru, a friend said to her: "I can't show you Lima today because we're having a revolution, but it'll be alright to show you round tomorrow". She came to live in this  large 1950s house with its fields and woodland but it was not until 2000 that she really got into gardening in a serius way.

Now, the garden is sufficiently interesting to be open annually for the National Gardens Scheme charity.

The stone-built house sits among fields with views of the low hills of the dale. Flower borders swell and curve around the house and a small stream runs down the far boundary.

Most of the plants here have to be pretty hardy, but Eillen has transformed a small courtyard by the back door into a surprising, lush green space with palms, a banana in a pot and a luxuriant tree fern. In front of the house there is a cottagey jumble of lavender, Astrantia maxima,yellow geum, blue Jacob's ladder, Peruvian lilies and astilbes. There is a bit of everything here: native ferns edge the field boundary wall, a golden bed of spreading prostate yew is punctuated by upright conifers.

Its is a mixture of styles among which there are quirky touches:  in the conifer bed is a fat terracotta pumpkin that the cats like to use as lookout post from which to survey  the garden.

Guest reviews for Thornley House, Hexham are provided by real guests who have actually stayed at the property.

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http://www.thornleyhouse.co.uk

Hexham Thornley House Bed & Breakfast - News and Events

A spoof warning at the entrance to Thornley House gives an early indication of surprises in the garden

The sing on the approach to Thornley House warns: "Panther crossing"  It's hardly the most welcoming message outside a garden about  to open its gate to the public and billing itself as child-friendly.

But don't be alarmed.

It is the firts of many eccentricities which  will delight and enthral those who venture  into the grounds of this delightful property in Thornley Gate,  near Allendale-Hexham.

Eileen bought this notice in Colorado, I've been trying to get a notice saying "cats crossing", but given the size of my 2 Mine Coons, I thought "panther crossing" would be more appropiate.

I also informed my neighbour, not to take pot shots at  Mstslav( as in Rostropovitch)

my ginger coon as he could easily be mistaken for a fox. explains Eileen

There are no panthers.

Although there are two giant Mine Coons - the biggest domestic cat allowed to be kept in Britain - among owner Eileen Finn's collection of five friendly felines.

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http://www.thornleyhouse.co.uk

Christmas 2011 - Special

Book Christmas at Thornley House before March 15th and get 23rd and 24th free bed and breakfast !

New Gardener at Thornley House

Our new gardener, Daniel from Ecuador is suffering from culture shock. He is astounded by the care lavished on Sidney and Gilbert,the donkeys. They are fed, brushed and have their feet cleaned daily - and inspectors regularly come to see that they are being satisfactorily looked after. This does not happen in Ecuador.

Garden Opening

Please note that the garden will be open for the Red Cross and National Garden Scheme at the end of August this year and not in May and June.

Special Offer

Until February 15th
"3 FOR 2" offer !

Please call or email for details !

Happy New Year !

Wishing all the very best for 2011 to our guests, visitors, and friends.

Mistaslav and Tigger received presents of toy mice filled with catnip from Carol, one of our Christmas guests !