EDENSOR VILLAGE OPEN GARDENS DAY 21ST JUNE 2025

Once again, the ancient village of Edensor will be welcoming visitors to a traditional village fete and as before, many of the residents will be opening their prized gardens for public viewing.

Last Year’s event#, was one of the best attended ever, well over a thousand people visited throughout the day, with proceeds donated to several worthy charities. This sets a challenge to repeat the success this year. The origins of the day were a little humbler than can be seen today!

Annually there used to be a Village Day held in Edensor on St Peter’s Day where there was a fete and a display of local crafts held in the Church. In the 1920s a long wooden table would be set up on the village green and everyone joined together in afternoon tea where a much more frugal affair would have been served than we see today. Afterwards there would be races at the bottom of the Crobbs, since there was very little traffic on the road, which both adults and children would join in.

A long standing resident from the mid- eighties recalls, “When we came here in 1987 the day comprised ploughman lunches in the gardens of Edensor House with beer and cider. We used the kitchens of Edensor House to prepare the food. The day itself was a village fete with the traditional stalls held on the green. There was much involvement for children.”

When Her Grace, the Dowager Duchess, moved into the village in 2005 she took over the day as primarily a church event with all the stalls in her garden and an open house where visitors were charged £5 to go round. Guides from the House were used to monitor the visitors. The stalls were manned by the congregation.

Nowadays the event is organised by a full committee comprising Edensor resident volunteers. Still run on traditional village fete lines, with entertainment and catering, craft stalls, bric-a-brac, vintage motor cars and bikes, there is a wide audience appeal.

The architecture is quite unique, much dating back to the late 1700s and well worth a visit simply to appreciate the importance of Edensor Village in that respect alone. Combine that with an opportunity to walk around many of the gardens which residents proudly ‘open’ for a closer look, including this year the newly restored Old Vicarage, what better way to while away a summer’s day in the heart of the Peak National Park!

Proceeds from the event this year will support charities Mind, Ashgate Hospice and St Peters Churchyard Maintenance Fund.

The event will open 11am-4pm, with the official opening at 12.00 noon

Entry is £5 per adult, accompanied children age 12 and under free of charge.