A Day Trip to the Glebe House and Gertrude Jekyll Garden

4/20/14 - By Sherry Pardy

Moving from Southeastern Connecticut back to the lower Litchfield County remains an adventure in reliving the past.  Not just the glorious history of this area of the state, but my own.  Having grown up in the area, I've had the very unique opportunity to expose my children to some of my favorite things from my childhood, and beyond.  While on April vacation from school, I planned a trip to one spot every student from the area eventually visits, and one that, for some reason, always stuck with me as one of my favorite, albeit educational, trips I ever took in school.  We ventured to The Glebe House in Woodbury, Connecticut.

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The Glebe House is an exquisite 18th century farmhouse, (its aesthetics I appreciate so much more now as an adult!) located in the heart of Woodbury's Village Center, right off Route 6.  While the home's architecture hold some historical significance, as an odd mix of different building styles of the late 1700's, the muted bluish grey color of the siding, and it's inviting red door draws you in, beckoning back to the period just before the Revolutionary War.  

The story goes, that in 1771, the first ever Episcopal priest in Woodbury, John Marshall, moved into the home with his wife Sarah and their nine children.  During the 1920's, the house fell into great disrepair, and was eventually saved, and restored.  One of the first historic home museums in the US, it opened to the public in 1925.  The "Glebe", as it was affectionately known, shows life during the Revolutionary War for the family who lived there.  

The guides and staff of The Glebe House are magnificent, and were my kids' favorite part of the entire visit.  They dress in period clothing and dole out tons of information about life during this time period.  From demonstrating the daily chores of the house, to waxing about interesting characters who stayed at the Glebe, the guides reminded me of why I loved visiting this beloved spot so much.  

Outside the Glebe is the Gertrude Jekyll garden, a spectacular classic English style garden.  Miss Jekyll (her name is pronounced differently than Mr. Hyde's pal) was a famed, British writer and horticulturist, and some say the most famed gardner of the 20th century.  Her garden was planned, but never actually constructed in the 1920's when it was originally intended.  Her plans were rediscovered some years later and built to her specifications.  Don't miss a stroll through the garden, if you can at all help it.  It's a showstopper!

Our entire visit lasted about 90 minutes, and was the perfect length.  Younger kiddos might spend a little less time inside.  Admission is $5.00, kids 6-12 are $2.00, and admission to the garden only is just $2.00.  Open hours are quite limited, and groups can be arranged ahead of time.  

The Glebe House
149 Hollow Road
Woodbury, CT 06798
203.263.2855

If you stop by the Glebe, while you're in Woodbury, definitely swing by The Good News Cafe.  This institution on Route 6 offers an ecclectic menu of seasonal, organic, and where possible, locally grown vegetables and meats.  There's always vegetarian soups and entrees for both lunch and dinner, many menu items are gluten free and it's truly an adventure!  

The Good News Cafe
694 Main Street South (Route 6)
Woodbury, CT 06798
203.266.4663 

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