The Victorian Walled Garden, situated 1.6 km (1 mile) from the Abbey, is 3.4 hectares (8.5 acres) in extent, 2.4 hectares (6 acres) of which are completely enclosed by a brick and limestone wall.

The garden was constructed at the same time at the Castle and was laid out by the head gardener, James Garnier.

The glasshouses were designed by Cranstons of Birmingham. These could be walked through from end to end and acted as a winter garden for the ladies on wet days.

The glasshouses were heated by three boilers, one of which doubled as a limekiln, and a complex system of underground hot-water pipes, 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) in extent. Two of the glasshouses have recently been restored, along with the Head Gardener’s House and workman’s Bothy.

The garden provided the flowers, fruits and vegetables for the Henry family. However, under the ownership of the Duke and Duchess of Manchester and Ernest Fawke, it went into decline.

The Nuns re-employed a Head Gardener until the 1940s. In the 1950s, Sr. Benedict took charge and kept the garden working for as long as was financially possible.

In time, the flower garden became a wilderness and the glasshouses collapsed, leaving only their brick base. The Garden, which is still under restoration, was re-opened by the nuns in 2000.

With the financial assistance of the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Project, substantial bank loans and encouragement from friends and donors, restoration work on the Garden began in 1995.

The FAS Community Employment Scheme has aided the restoration from 1996. The Nuns’ commitment is to restore the Walled Garden to its former glory and to re-establish Kylemore as a centre of horticultural and botanical excellence.

The Garden was awarded the Europa Nostra Award for the restoration project in 2002.
Restoration work at Kylemore Abbey & Garden is still ongoing. Conserving this wonderful old building and maintaining the extensive grounds requires constant management. The Nuns’ enclosure is in need of urgent attention, as are other sections of the main building. Future projects under consideration by the Community are the development of a retreat and contemplation centre in the proximity of the Abbey.

However, attracting more vocations is essential for the future survival of the Community and this hope is constantly in their prayers. Anyone contemplating the religious life will find contact details at the back of this booklet.

To assist them in their work of restoration and conservation several fundraising schemes have been put in place by the nuns. One such scheme is the Forest Friends of Kylemore Woods, details of which are available from the Visitor Centre.

Today the garden is a wonderful example of a Victorian Walled Garden. A stream divides the enclosed section of the Garden into two distinct areas; the Kitchen Garden and the Flower Garden. The Flower Garden is an excellent example of a planting style typical of the late Victorian era.

Geometrically shaped flowerbeds are set in lawns which slope down to a central walk. Crowning the northern slope were twenty-one glass houses, which housed exotic fruits and plants.

The Kitchen Garden is divided into four irregular-shaped plots.