The Victorian Garden at Lissadell was originally constructed in 1840. It served as a replacement to the previous vegetable and herb garden by the sea shore, and now known as the Alpine Garden after the transformation into a pleasure garden from the1880’s. The original Kitchen Garden was served by a suite of glass houses adjoining the Garden, in the frame yard complex. On the northern wall of the Garden an underground boiler was constructed; this heated water, which was then piped to the adjoining glass houses in order to ensure a heated environment to encourage the early growth of flowers, vegetables and exotic fruits. It also served as a protective environment for more tender plants and allowed for extensive cultivation of cuttings and bulbs which was undertaken in the nearby restored potting shed.

The Kitchen Garden measures 2.4 acres in size and is divided into four equal squares, one of which is elevated. Surrounding this is a 15 foot lawn. On the original walls, trees, shrubs and plants were trained. Whilst the Garden was restored originally between the years of 2004 and 2008 into a vibrant Kitchen Garden, the amount of labour was quite enormous. Multitudes of various vegetables were grown, but such were the quantities that it was not capable of an economic use within the original tea rooms.
With the present trend to the discounting of vegetable and garden produce prices within supermarkets it is no longer commercially viable to produce even organic vegetables for retail sale. 

Instead, after careful consideration, the decision has been made to change the format of the Kitchen Garden, and this work is presently underway. Instead of having four squares under vegetable cultivation, a single square will be cultivated but with four separate sections, thus allowing a proper crop rotation and within which it is intended to grow sufficient produce for the Estate use, and which will facilitate the production of produce for use in jams, chutneys and other Lissadell produce to which an added value can be given.

The remaining 3 squares have now been restored so as to create flower and pleasure ground displays. The first square as one enters from the eastern entrance is intended to be a rose garden devoted to cherished female roses, such as Jane Austin, Gertrude Jekyll, Lady Emma Hamilton, Darcy Bussell, Claire Austin and Lady of Shalott amongst other varieties and will provide a beautiful setting where visitors can enjoy the wonderous scent of these fragrant roses. The square behind on the south eastern corner is being replanted as a tranquillity garden with wind spinners, wind chimes and meditative settings, edged with flowers and a tree tranquil setting to take one’s repose. The south western square, which is the square furthest from the initial entry, is an elevated square and is presently being cultivated with wild Irish Flower seed under sown with green manure plants and off set with judicious planting so as to provide a haven for birds, bees and other wildlife.

 The advantage of this work is that it reduces significantly the overall labour costs, but more importantly reduces untoward waste and provides a more tranquil and better environment for birds, bees and other insects.

We hope, you as the visitor, will enjoy the work, which we emphasise is in progress, and which involves a very significant effort, but an effort which we believe will be worthwhile when the final vistas are completed. The apple and pear trees are thriving, as are the fruit bushes. We emphasise that this Garden is a work in progress in Lissadell, which is a working Estate.