History of Woodborough Yard

Situated on the eastern edge

of the pretty village of Woodborough

and in the heart of the Vale of Pewsey,

Woodborough Yard

is today a bustling centre

for independent shops and cafes.

Back in 1883, Walter T. Ware – Nurseryman began trading from this very location. 

Ware’s, whose head office was in Bath, was renowned in Woodborough for tulips and daffodils – so much so that there is evidence that Monet purchased bulbs for his garden in Giverny from here. 

Even as recently as the 1960’s, coach trips would come to look at and walk around the tulip fields.  Although the tulip fields were for the visitors, the daffodils were cut by the local workers, boxed and then taken by train – initially from Woodborough Halt Station until 1964 when Beeching made his cuts and the station was closed, and then from Pewsey Station – to London and the north of England and beyond.

The move to ‘Pick Your Own’ has meant that for many years, every spring, people have flocked to Woodborough Garden Centre to pick their own daffodils – it is somewhat of a tradition!

Woodborough Yard has now developed into the most charming collection of independent shops and businesses, offering plenty of browsing and specialist goods as well as places to eat and drink – and all with easy and free parking.