Benton End in Hadleigh, Suffolk is the former home of celebrated artist and gardener Sir Cedric Morris (1889 – 1982) and his lifelong partner, artist, Arthur Lett-Haines (1894–1978).
Cedric and Lett established the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing. They created one of the most remarkable art schools of the period, a place ‘outside the system’. One of the first pupils was the 17-year old Lucian Freud; one of the last, Maggi Hambling. The artists were often joined by friends such as Elizabeth David, Vita Sackville-West, Constance Spry, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears.
In his lifetime, Cedric became better known as a gardener than an artist. The garden at Benton End was influential for its naturalistic style. It was home to a collection of rare and unusual plants, many of which were brought back by Cedric on his winter trips abroad. Cedric famously bred bearded irises, naming over 90 cultivars, many of which carry the ‘Benton’ prefix.
His closest protégé was Beth Chatto who credited Benton End with opening her eyes to what a garden could be; she became the most famous plantswoman of her generation.
In 2021 Benton End was majority gifted to the Garden Museum by the Pinchbeck Charitable Trust with the intention that the house and garden might be restored and re-opened as a place of learning once again. Head Gardener James Horner has been working in the garden since 2023, beginning to revive Benton End as a place of art and horticulture, learning and friendship. James works with Project Director, Beatrice Prosser-Snelling, who is leading on the capital projects to renew the house and gardens.
Benton End will become a centre for artistic and horticultural study once more. ‘To encourage freedom of invention, enthusiasm and enjoyment,’ echoing the spirit of Cedric and Lett.
We begin with renewal of the Walled Garden, in collaboration with landscape designer Sarah Price, which we hope to re-open to visitors in summer 2026.
The next step will be the start of Benton End Revived, a £5m capital project to repair, renovate, restore and adapt the house and wider grounds to become a cultural centre at the heart of the Brett Valley.
Benton End Revived is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.
Our appeal to restore artist-plantsman Cedric Morris's walled garden at Benton End in Suffolk
