The Manor, Hemingford Grey

Beautiful and mysterious house, lovingly looked after by Lucy Boston's daughter- in-law. She will also show you LB's stunning patchworks. Highly recommended.

Very interesting tour of the house by the entertaining and knowledgeable owner of the Manor, Diana Boston. A must for any fan of patchwork quilts and the Green Knowe series of books. Prepare to be amazed. Highly recommended with a beautiful riverside garden to explore.

Both house and garden are open daily , though entrance to the house is by tour which needs to be booked in advance. There is discount if you are historic house members. The tour by Diana (owner) is very interesting. So much history in the building , originally owned by Lucy Boston who wrote the green knowe books as well as doing the most amazing patchwork quilts (shown on the tour, but no photos allowed of them) , the gardens are beautiful and cream teas can be booked separately to take in the garden. Highly recommend a visit , a truly amazing building, history and tour.

This is a magical place- particularly if you have read the book as a child. We were lucky to have glorious autumn sunshine. Wandering around the garden after putting our £5 in the honesty box was an absolute pleasure. So much still in flower. We weren't able to tour the house but that's something to save for another day.

Amazing historical house within a 30 minute drive from Cambridge. It's been lived in for more than 900 years. The music room was my favourite with its stone walls and cosy seats and its 1929 working gramophone that Diana, the owner, kindly played for us.

We admired Lucy Boston's amazing patchwork and the beautiful gardens. This is one of the best estate houses I've visited in the UK.

An amazing place to see, so full of history and atmosphere, a fantastic day out

Gardener, quilter, author and a woman so early to university (Oxford...her brothers were at Cambridge and didn't want her at 'their' university) that she was only allowed to attend lectures with no hope of acquiring a degree...Lucy Boston...and it is her beautiful garden, quilts and literary, artistic and social legacy that live on in the competent hands of her remarkble daughter-in-law...who will probably be the one to show you around the house.

Another aspect of this refreshing experience is real contact with the 12th C origins of the manor house...it's there in plain sight...loads of it...as are examples of building alterations and 'renovations' over the centuries!! Our tour leader was appropriately scathing of some of the, "...dreadfully untidy work of the Elizabethan builders"...ours is not the only era that can mindlessly damage.

The quilts are outstanding.

Lovely to access the river through the garden gate...the stuff of dreams...but all enough to wake up even the most somnolent of visitors.

1973. I had been to London. I didn't get to see the Queen, but I did get to meet author Lucy Boston and tour her home and gardens during a cruise down the River Ouse with my Rotary International family, the Entwistles. Beautiful!

I did take photos with my trusty Kodak point and shoot. They are now faded and slightly tinted magenta.

A truly amazing place. Visit by appointment only, but well worth it. The manor is full of history and the gardens are fabulous.

Diana is wonderful, a vibrant storyteller, so relaxed. A treasure of a house and garden. Thank you for sharing the memories that Lucy has left in her books and with you.

Very nice gardens, didn't do a tour of the house

4 Friends met to be shown around your lovely home. It is so quirky and full of interest and atmosphere. Wonderful surprises and amazing patchworks to enthuse over, to admire the skill of the sewer, at 90+ years, astonishing. Thank you for sharing you home and all the stories you entertained us with. You have to visit this home, the photos on the internet are just a teaser for what is in store. Josephine, Clive, Ann and Ian

This really is an experience money cant buy. You will meet the latest custodian of this Norman House and share in the rich history of the previous inhabitants. The gardens are just typically English and natural with no pretensions and a huge wealth of various plants and mature trees. There is a proper gardener with full knowledge of every plant.
The current owner Diane, is admirably filling her mother in law , Lucy Boston the author, 's shoes.
We were delighted with the tour and if old houses, gardens, history, quilting English literature then this is for you.

Diana was a wonderful tour guide and it was amazing to walk through 'Green Knowe' and see everything from the books - Toby's sword, the rocking horse. The quilts were breathtaking.

What a wonderful, wonderful place. Highly recommended if you're a fan of the Green Knowe books. The gardens are beautiful and the house is absolutely amazing, and the tour is worth every penny and several more. A delight.

I booked a visit for four adults without knowing much at all about the Manor. However, not only did we get to appreciate the wonderful history of the Manor itself, but also learnt a great deal about very talented Lucy Boston and her family. I had no idea we would come to appreciate such beautiful patchwork or the Green Knowe books and their illustrations. I imagine it's magical for children who are familiar with the books! Diane was an excellent tour guide and we will be back again to appreciate the gardens when they are in bloom. Highly recommended even if you know nothing about the history of the manor or the family before hand.

Very interesting tour, especially if you are familiar with the Green Knowe books

Hidden away in a beautiful village of Hemingford Grey. The gardens & house were an absolute delight. The Iris collection are truly stunning & the planting reminds me of the style of Piet Oudolf along with an old fashioned country garden style, full of scented roses. The house is full of charm, history & character as are the owners, the stories told of the house leave you feeling almost child like with an head full of excitement and adventure. This is a wonderful day out I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and will return. Sarah. Rutland.

Visited yesterday, as I was in the area. Was really looking forward to seeing the gardens at the very least, as we had not booked onto the house tour. However, as another couple had made a mistake with their booking and not turned up, we were very kindly allowed a tour of the house! My sister and I were thrilled to bits! We were shown around by a lovely, and extremely knowledgeable local lady. The Manor has so much history, and it came to life with the knowledge and enthusiasm of our tour guide. Lucy Boston’s patchworks were out of this world, and if you’re familiar with the Green Knowe books, this place is simply magical. The gardens are beautiful, jam packed with an array of flowers, and lots of secret areas, with plenty of seating to sit back and enjoy. At the end of tour, we got to meet the owner, Diana, which was a treat. Thank you for such a wonderful day!

Fabulous guided tour of the house by the owner. Fascinating property with interesting items. Gardens were spectacular with a large collection of irises, mature trees, flower beds, topiary. Plenty of seating to sit down and admire the views.