Doddington’s Kitchen Garden has existed in some form since around 1600, when the Hall was built. For centuries it would have supplied fresh produce for the household, continuing a long tradition of growing and eating with the seasons.

By the 1960s, much of the Kitchen Garden had become fallow, though a small area remained in cultivation. It was here that Claire, current owner of Doddington Hall, helped to grow and pick vegetables when she was young.

Claire’s experience and nostalgia later inspired the garden’s restoration: “Growing up at Doddington, eating seasonal produce from the Kitchen Garden and farm was the only thing I knew. I learnt to cook using what was on hand as the seasons passed, and my love of cooking and good food stems from this. I strongly believe that fresh, good quality ingredients are the foundation of delicious food.”

In 2007, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the neglected garden was restored to its former glory. Now carefully shaped by both heritage and modern growing practices, the Kitchen Garden is once again in full production.

Our gardeners and volunteers use traditional, sustainable methods such as crop rotation, biological controls and no-dig beds. This helps us to maintain healthy soil and strong crops without the need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides.

Today, the garden supplies an abundance of seasonal ingredients used across the estate. You’ll find Kitchen Garden produce in our Farm Shop and across all of our menus. Visit early in the morning and you’ll often see our Kitchen Gardener Ellie delivering her daily harvest straight to the chefs.