The herb garden

Bede's World's Herb Garden is based on Anglo-Saxon and medieval plants and designs appropriate to the Anglo-Saxon monastery of St Paul and the medieval monastery which took its place. The garden was initially designed by Rosemary Cramp and Richard Kilburn in 1978, and is now cared for by a team of volunteers who can be seen working in the garden most Thursday mornings (new members are welcome). Entrance to the Herb Garden is free.

The first part of the garden as you enter it draws on the structure of a typical medieval physick garden, with trellis work and a central arch marking the entrance, leading to four oblong beds, two on either side of a central aisle. The first two of the four beds contain herbs from the Anglo-Saxon age; behind them lie a bed of Culinary Herbs and one of Medicinal Herbs.

The second part of the garden is based on the 9th century plan for the monastery at St Gall (in modern day Switzerland). This unique document preserves the layout drawn for the monastery at St Gall, showing ecclesiastical and domestic buildings. Plans for two large gardens - one for medicinal and one for culinary herbs - survive on this plan; there is also an orchard. The long narrow parallel rectangular beds in our garden are based on those shown on the St Gall plan, although the planting is not replicated exactly, as our plants are based on those Anglo-Saxon and medieval variaties suitable for our soil and climate.

For books about medieval gardens and herbs, visit our online bookshop.