A visit to a hidden Somerset gem – 4th June 2025
Words and Pictures by Dominic Weston
‘Gardeners’ World’ didn’t do it justice, and in an age when so much on our screens is ‘improved’ beyond the real thing, it was with a real sense of wonder when I wandered through the gardens and grounds of Caisson House, near Bath on an early June evening this year.
It wasn’t our first visit. We’d been tipped off by Flip that this was a garden not to miss — especially since it only began welcoming visitors in 2024. Our first trip was in April, for the tulip season. The standout memory? Drifts of white tulips underplanted in a blossoming orchard — a vision of spring.
The real sense of wonder, though, was how much the garden had changed in just a few short weeks. Not only had the raised beds in front of the former headquarters of the Somerset Coal Canal filled out, but a whole new set of colours and forms had come to the fore: Roses, Foxgloves, Alliums, Borage, Astrantia, all tussling for attention.
Around every corner there was a new perspective, a surprising framing, a new focus that drew your attention. Not in a showy ‘aren’t I clever’ way, but in a series of enticing revelations that drew you naturally from one spot to another and another, and quietly magical.
Many gardens open to the public offer imaginative planting. Some sit in spectacular landscapes. Few manage both with the quiet confidence and beauty of Caisson. Nestled on the side of a wooded valley dotted with the historic remains of dry canal locks, it feels both ancient and renewed.
Talking with Amanda Honey — a garden designer who, with her husband Phil, has restored the house and created the gardens over the past 15 years — we hit upon what makes this place so special: it’s not precious. Nothing feels overly curated or contrived. It’s relaxed and welcoming, as though you’ve always known it, and always come here to catch the last light of the day before dusk accompanies your reluctant departure.
Weeds are allowed to grow between path stones. Hurdles keep exuberant plants in check — clearly handmade, on site. Tomato plants in the greenhouse are labelled with pared-back hazel sticks, on the exposed heartwood. Even the garden’s structure feels as organic as its plants, a quiet testament to Amanda and Phil’s regenerative approach. Follow the path into the woods — where Bath stone canal locks now lie forgotten — and you’ll spot their immense compost bins; half-hidden and half industrial in scale.
There is so much to enjoy here — in the planting, in the place, and in the people who have poured themselves into both. What struck me most was how much they wanted us to enjoy it too. Opening their garden felt like a joy, not a duty.
They’ve closed for the season now, but make sure you book early next year. You won’t find this kind of experience on TV or online — Caisson House & Gardens really is something special.
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