Wilstone House and Gardens

Specialists in original hand-carved stone, wrought iron and unique, bespoke architectural pieces to landscape designers, architects and gardening enthusiasts.

Wilstone House and Gardens have been accepted to display their exclusive range at both the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show and at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show this year.

The Shropshire based company are specialists in original hand-carved stone pieces in traditional and contemporary designs, wrought iron and unique, bespoke architectural pieces which they supply to landscape designers, architects and gardening enthusiasts.

Christo McKinnon, co-owner of Wilstone says ‘we are absolutely delighted with the news. This will be our 4th year at Chelsea, and each year we have won a certificate of merit for our stand – so, we are hoping that we can make it a 4th year running.’ Christo continued ‘we exhibited at Hampton Court for the first time last year and it was amazing for us. The response we got from visitors to the flower show was great’.

Christo’s wife Kate who designs the planting schemes and grows the plants herself for the shows said ‘we are really pleased and excited about the news. To be able to display such a huge variety of items alongside numerous top quality companies is a great feeling for us.’

The actual stand layout is a very closely guarded secret but will feature large and extremely rare Lingam stones.’
Shiva Lingam Stones symbolize the union between heaven and earth in the Hindu religion. Found only in the Narmada river, Central India, villagers search for them after heavy monsoon rains have brought them to the surface.

The stand also includes another of Wilstone’s recent designs in stone. A classically designed hand carved wall fountain with lead lion water spout. This piece will be exhibited alongside a large selection of hand carved sandstone pieces in traditional and contemporary designs, reclaimed architectural elements and two unique products which will be shown for the first time.

Christo continued ‘for the first time we will be exhibiting a tented Gazebo. We sell a lot of our wrought iron Gazebos, but we have now added something unique – a tented section which attaches to the inner roof of the Gazebo to give cover or shade to those sitting underneath it.’

Made in natural canvas and available in burgundy or gold colour, the suspended tent allows the Wilstone Gazebo to become a room in the garden. Another new product from Wilstone is a classically designed sandstone pergola which features reclaimed timber roof beams.

Wilstone will also be exhibiting their popular wrought iron Kadais which can be used as fire bowls, BBQ’s, planters or water features. Christo said ‘heavy riveted wrought iron kadai’s where once used all over India as large ceremonial cooking pots for weddings and festivals.’

Since an early age Christo McKinnon has been selling antiques and decorative architectural pieces through the family antiques firm based on King’s Road in London. 10 years ago he set up on his own and with his partner Kate, developed a unique business sourcing and producing carved sandstone, wrought iron and a host of architectural pieces for the house and garden.

It is the garden now that holds particular interest for them and working with fair trade principles very much in mind they travel frequently to their masonary yards in India. Here sandstone is still worked by hand in the traditional manner and carved into wonderful pieces to Wilstone’s own designs that are then given the final finishing details in the Shropshire workshop. These pieces age very well in this country, the stone being available in either a pure white or buff colour that quickly naturalises. Being porus in just a few years, they grow the kind of Lichen and Moss that are found on old English pieces. Indeed these will be become the antiques of the future and, unlike their concrete counterparts, do not damage the enviroment or produce a waste byproduct.

In addition to Wilstone’s own range, bespoke work can be undertaken, and as no moulds need to be made one off and special commissions can be produced.

Quality wrought iron gates, gazebos and other items are also being produced with similar techniques to those used a hundred years ago, with heavy iron riveted together and forged into shape. View this range from the Wrought Iron menu and if you have any special requirements please contact us.

Architectural and interior pieces have always excited us, the bigger and heavier the better (until we come to move them that is!). On this website there is only a selection of what is available now and in stock. To see and feel all these wonderful pieces come and visit us here in the Shropshire Hills, where everything is on display.