This perfect example of a country house murder has inspired novels by many writers including Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Mary Elizabeth Braddon. 

The murder in 1860 of a 4 year old boy discovered at the bottom of a garden privy has continued to capture the imagination of the public and turned everyone into amateur detectives.  Such is the interest in this murder that yet a further book, Paul Chambers’ ‘Murder Most Foul’ has recently been published about the Rode murder.

Thought to be only the third time in 150 years that the gardens at Road Hill House (now called Langham House) have been opened to the public, this is therefore a rare chance to see the magnificent gardens.  The gardens of Langham House will be open by kind permission of Chris & Stephanie Lyons. 

A second Rode garden, Rivermead, is also going to be open on July 4th as part of Rode’s Open Gardens.  Described as ‘one of the remarkable small gardens in Somerset’, this garden is a series of miniature tableaux and are full of exotic plants. It is the result of over 50 years work by owner Micheal Sparey. 



The Rode Open Gardens Event is in aid of the Heart of Rode Appeal, an Appeal tasked to raise £60,000 to fund improvements to Rode’s ancient village church of St Lawrence.

Both gardens are open from 14:00 through to 17:00 on Sunday July 4th. Tickets are available in advance at £4 each from Rode Post Office or £5 on the Gate on July 4th.

“The PCC has plans approved to convert the existing vestry area of the church to a small meeting room equipped with a loo and facilities to allow us to make and serve drinks and wash up afterwards. (At the moment someone takes the dirty cups home in a bucket). The plans are quite straightforward but as you would expect with a listed building it still comes to a considerable amount of money- £60,000. More information can be found here.” says Revd Nigel Done.

There is a very special Family Service on February 14th (Valentine’s Day) to celebrate and give thanks for the love in your life. It might be someone you have recently fallen for, or been married to for twenty years or an elderly parent you appreciate anew. At this service the congregation will be building a big heart to signify the love that is shared in our community and receive donations towards securing the future of the village church.

The service starts at 10:45am, Sunday 14th February.