A visit to Benton End

Not far from Stowupland Hall lies the walled garden of Benton End in Suffolk, originated from the mastery of Sir Cedric Morris. Known as a painter, gardener, and horticulturist, Morris dedicated himself to the creation of a safe space for self-expression through plant breeding, domestic crafts and fine art mediums.

The Garden Museum in London is currently reviving this sanctuary as an homage to the craftsmanship of botanical care and the artistic inspiration that followed suit within the environment. Morris’s garden in Benton End housed a unique collection of rare plants that was curated by himself throughout time and travels. The ongoing renovation creates space for a contemporary take on his artistic and horticultural legacy.

Benton End was purchased by Morris and his partner, Arthur Lett-Haines, in 1939 with the intention of founding the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing, where they trained successful pupils such as Lucian Freud. The experience at Benton End was evocative of the paintings of John Nash, who served as a teacher at the art school. This location is so sacred to our artistic inspiration that the colour Benton Duff from our Colour Collection No.6 is named after it.

The naturalistic style of Morris’s garden echoes our ethos at PLAIN ENGLISH: designed to stay and evolve over time. What’s made well is worth keeping.