The gardens were opened in 1977 by local resident, the late Sir Henry Farrington Bt., to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. Situated opposite the Post Office in West Street, they provide a place for rest and relaxation much valued by old and young alike.

Now part of The Wiveliscombe Heritage Arts Trail, they were updated in 2004 by the addition of very fine sculpted gates and innovatively carved oak seats.

The Gates

Bristol-based sculptor, Steve Joyce, began by taking plaster hand-casts from a wide varity of local people aged between five and ninety in what proved to be a very enjoyable exercise for the participants.

These were then cast in metal and incorporatedin the final design together with the names of the shopkeepers who originally traded from the site on which the gardens now stand. Passers-by now often stop to point out their own hands!

The Seats

Carved by artist Will Glanfield the seats are both comfortable and challenging to the eye.