Milford Manor Gardens is at the eastern end of Shady Bower, at the bottom of the hill.
It is named in reference to Milford Manor – it’s possible that the land on which the road was built was once part of the Manor’s gardens.
Milford Manor
Milford Manor, Milford
The current Milford Manor was built in 1902 for Mr. R. Gerrish. Gerrish was one of the owners, and later the sole owner, of the department store Style and Gerrish, which is now Debenhams.
There has been a Manor house on the site for some time before 1902. The Swayne brothers, Thomas and Bennet, owned Milford Manor in the 18th Century 1. There is a tradition that Henry Fielding wrote part of his famous novel Tom Jones in the summer house. There is a pane of glass from the summer house in Salisbury Museum which has been graffiti-ed with the inscription.
Dear Clarissa – Puellarum omnium formissima
She’s the fairest where thousands are fair2
The graffiti has been attributed to Fielding.
Shopping in Salisbury?
If you’re planning an overnight stay, have a look at the Hotels in Salisbury page.
