Sissinghurst: A Garden of Love
20th Century • 36m
In this second episode of our Great British Houses series:
In the heart of Kent is one of Britain’s most intriguing houses: Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Originally a grand Elizabethan manor, by the 20th century Sissinghurst had fallen into a ruinous state. Yet it was this wildness and disrepair which enchanted one of the bestselling writers of the 1920s, Vita Sackville-West.
In this documentary, Alice Loxton explores how Vita, along with her husband Harold, transformed this romantic ruin into a home. Joined by National Trust experts and leading historians, Alice uncovers the secrets of Sissinghurst - and in turn, the fascinating aspects of Vita’s unique character. From her bestselling writing to the creation of a world class garden, from a loving relationship with her husband Harold to many passionate romances with women, Vita was a remarkable woman, trapped between the old and new. This is the story of Vita’s Sissinghurst - a story of Vita in love.
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