Winterbourne House and Garden, Birmingham (must see)

Winterbourne House and Garden, situated in Birmingham, is an example of early 20th-century domestic architecture and garden design. Designed in 1903 by local architect Joseph Lancaster Ball for John and Margaret Nettlefold, the house was completed in 1904. Built from brick and tile, it features a distinctive wavy roof line. Margaret Nettlefold herself took on the task of designing the original garden, drawing inspiration from the renowned designer Gertrude Jekyll, particularly evident in the color-themed border planting.

The Nettlefold family resided in Winterbourne until health issues prompted John to relocate, leading to Margaret selling the property in 1919. It was then purchased by the Wheelock family, a local lawyer with nine children, who lived there until 1925. Subsequently, the house was bought by John Nicolson, a successful businessman and enthusiastic gardener who enhanced the gardens, adding an alpine area and expanding the rock garden. Nicolson’s death in 1944 led to the bequest of Winterbourne to the University of Birmingham.

Since then, the University has utilized the property for various purposes but restored it in 2010 to reflect its original status as a family home, including interiors adorned with William Morris design wallpapers. The garden, too, has undergone significant restoration. Today, Winterbourne House and Garden is a visitor attraction, featuring the grade II-listed Winterbourne Botanic Garden adjacent to Edgbaston Pool-a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This 7-acre garden is celebrated as a rare surviving example of a suburban "villa" garden from the Edwardian period, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement.

Winterbourne offers interactive exhibits, a terraced tearoom, a gift shop, plant sales, a second-hand bookshop, and a gallery hosting guest exhibitions. It is open daily, charging a small admission fee with varying hours between summer and winter. Winterbourne also holds affiliations with the Historic Houses Association and the Royal Horticultural Society. Notably, from 2008 to 2011, it was featured in the BBC TV's Gardener's World series hosted by Toby Buckland.