Belgrave Hall was built in the early 18th century, in what was then a small village three miles from the City of Leicester.  John Throsby described the Hall in his ‘Excursions in Leicestershire’ in 1790 as “a neat little box in the midst of Flora’s pleasure”.  The formal gardens are protected by high red brick walls which shelter a variety of shrubs and climbers, including a magnificent Wisteria sinensis, reputed planted by John Ellis in 1860.

Every owner of the Hall has helped to contribute to the gardens with two ancient black mulberry trees flanking the broad walk, a pond, mature yew trees and shady woodland compliment the magnificent formal, box-edged borders and kitchen garden containing fruit trees, herbs and other culinary delights.

A number of glass houses would have produced a range of fruits such as peaches, grapes, nectarines and tender flowers for use in the Hall. Since the Hall became a museum in 1937, they have been developed as both a period and a botanic garden containing a wide range of plants from all over the world as well as a mix of native meadow and woodland plants to support native fauna.