Felley Priory was founded by Ralph (or Raddulph) Britto, Lord of Annesley, in 1156 for Augustinian or Black Canons. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was subordinate to the priory of Worksop. Robert the Hermit already lived in a small chapel there.

In 1260 Jeffrey de Langley gave all of his lands to the priory and canons at Felley, on condition that his and his wife's name should be daily mentioned in the mass, and every year one mass should be celebrated with Placebo and Derige on the day of his death, and thirteen poor people should be fed and have a white loaf, a good mess, and a flagon of ale.

Felley Priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1536, when it was valued at £40 19s 1d. Later that century a new smaller house was built, which was added to in 1886. In 1644 it was owned by Gilbert Millington, a Parliamentarian. During the civil war it was garrisoned and plundered by the Royalist army of the Marquis of Newcastle. In 1886 the Elizabethan House was added to, and during the 1890s the gardens were terraced on the site of the old priory.

Today it is owned by the Chaworth-Musters family, their occupancy dating from 1974 when Robert P. Chaworth-Musters (descendant of the marriage between Mary Ann Chaworth and John Jack Musters) moved into Felley Priory from Annesley Hall.

The present layout of the garden began in 1976 when the yew hedges were planted to afford shelter for herbaceous borders kept in flower from May to October.
In the garden are pergolas and knot gardens, a garden of old-fashioned roses, a medieval garden, a pond, and an orchard.

In the spring the whole of the orchard is carpeted with an incredible variety of daffodils, and is well worth a visit. As you explore there are many uncommon trees and shrubs to be discovered. Each part of the Felley garden is like a different chapter in a book. The south and east facing borders have tender plantings, the pergolas are covered in roses, vines clematis and lonicera.

The boundary wall shelters small trees and shrubs under-planted with geraniums, hellebores, hostas, digitalis and meconopsis. All the plants and shrubs sold in the nursery are grown in the garden, so you can see them flowering. They are mostly old fashioned and unusual. Some are fairly tender but all of them have survived in this garden 600ft above sea level.

The garden and nursery are open every Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday from 9:00am to 12:30pm all year round.

From March to October, the garden and nursery are also open every second and fourth Wednesday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and every third Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

The garden is also open for the National Garden Scheme on a Sunday in April, and for the NCCPG plant fairs on the first Sundays in June and October.

There is a charge for adult admission to the garden (no charge for children) and no charge to visit the nursery.

Ample free parking and refreshments are available, and the garden and nursery are suitable for wheelchairs.

For further information please telephone the Hon. Mrs Chaworth-Musters on 01773 810230 or fax 01773 580440.

Felley Priory is a three-minute drive from junction 27 of the M1. From the junction, drive West towards Underwood and Brinsley on the A608. The priory is down a road to the left before you get to Underwood. There are cottages on the right-hand side of the road opposite the turn-off.

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