Barrow Castle

Barrow Castle was built in 1851 so 2001 was its 150th anniversary. We don?t know who built or owned the house originally but do know that it was built on the site of an earlier one which burnt down in a fire. The Coach House is about 100 years earlier in date and it seems likely that it was built at the same time as the earlier house. The clock on the coach house was made in 1782 . We do know who bought the house in 1890 as we have the auction details. It was bought by Mr Ware of Ware?s Nurseries. He ran a nursery business here until was it taken over by his manager, Mr Tichmarch, who married Mr Ware?s daughter, thus keeping it in the family. Many local people remember the house and the nurseries from their time when the house was a dark and forbidding place with coats of armour in the hallway! In the 1960s the Meering family bought the nursery business and made changes to meet modern day realities. They started what is now Hilliers Garden Centre. We bought the house in March 2000.