Once a real Abbey, Mottisfont became a private home after the dissolution of the Monasteries. It's well worth a visit - especially the water wheel which still turns the spit in the old downstairs kitchen. Keep and eye too for the bell board, showing who was ringing for service from what room..... shades of "Upstairs, Downstairs."

But the real delightis the gardens including a fabulous walled garden, beautifully maintained that houses the National Collection of Old Roses - every colour and shape all with gorgeous scents.  And not just roses, iris, gladioli, magnolia and dozens more which to my untrained, non-gardener's eye looked amazing even if I had no idea what they were called.