The Artist’s House

Benton End house and gardens in Hadleigh, Suffolk is the former home of celebrated artist and gardener Sir Cedric Morris (1889 – 1982) and artist, Arthur Lett-Haines (1894–1978); lifelong partners, they met on Armistice Night in 1918.

Cedric and Lett established the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing creating 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. 

The Artist-plantsman

The garden at Benton End was influential for its naturalistic style and its collection of rare and unusual plants, many of which were brought back by Cedric on his winter sojourns aboard. Cedric famously bred bearded irises, naming 90 cultivars many of which many 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.

Cedric Morris with Euphorbias at Benton End, image courtesy of Frances Mount

Benton End entrance with irises © Benton End House & Garden Trust

The Garden Museum and Benton End

In 2021 Benton End was majority gifted to the Garden Museum by two exceptional Patrons with the intention that the house and garden might be revived and opened to the public once again. We are now exploring ideas for the house with the support of a specialist advisory panel, and have recently appointed James Horner as Head Gardener. We hope to revive Benton End as a place of art and horticulture, learning and friendship.

PLEASE NOTE THE HOUSE AND GARDEN ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT PRESENT.

The Revival of Benton End

The Garden Museum is currently working on a visionary project to revive Benton End as a centre for artistic and horticultural study once more. Its remit is to be a haven for those wishing to practice arts and horticulture. ‘To encourage freedom of invention, enthusiasm and enjoyment’ thereby echoing the spirit of Cedric and Lett.  

Work to preserve the house and garden is ongoing, ensuring that the rich history of Benton End is not forgotten.  This is an ambitious project that we anticipate will take five years to complete.

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Cedric Morris with pets including Rubeo the parrot at Benton End, image courtesy of Sarah Cook. Header image: Meadow cutting at Benton End (c) Matt Collins

Benton End (c) Matt Collins

Support Benton End

Benton End is currently a subsidiary of the Garden Museum (charity registration number 1088221). All donations are therefore received and processed by the Museum, but will be used solely for the Benton End project.

Donate to Benton End

Buy the exhibition catalogue

This publication to accompany the Garden Museum’s 2018 exhibition Cedric Morris: Artist Plantsman celebrates the incredible life and artistic journey of Cedric Morris, intertwining the worlds of art and botany. Explore his captivating portraits, still-lifes, and landscapes, which reflect his extensive travels. Delve into his renowned flower paintings, showcasing his botanical expertise as a cultivator of over 90 new irises.

Buy the catalogue

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Benton End News and Stories

Sarah Cook’s search for Cedric Morris irises

Benton Irises: It’s all in a name

The most sustainable Chelsea Flower Show Garden ever?

Meet Benton End’s new Head Gardener, James Horner

Sarah Price: Designing a Cedric Morris-inspired garden

The Garden Museum announces plans to revive Cedric Morris’ Suffolk home Benton End as a centre of art and gardening

See all Benton End news

In this film Garden Museum Head Gardener Matt Collins and Sarah Cook, former Head Gardener at Sissinghurst, enjoy a stroll around Cedric’s garden at Benton End, Suffolk. In it they discuss history of the garden, the plants he bred there (particularly Benton irises), his influence over 20th century gardening, and what the future holds for the garden at Benton End. They also visit Sarah’s own garden nearby in Hadleigh, where she holds the National Collection of Cedric Morris Irises.