About Us

Kevin Duffy

Rectory Nurseries has been established over 40 years, the history is best described by Kevin himself.  The following are transcripts of Kevin talking about the nurseries and his art, taken from videos that have been produced by different people over the years.

We made this garden centre about 41 years ago.

It was the Blue Bell Bowling Green and when they closed the bowling green they put it over to allotments and then when the allotments men gave it up it became a scrap heap. People were using it as a short cut from their houses at the back and it was in very poor condition.

We lived in the little end terraced house and I looked through the bedroom window and saw what just looked like a tip. Me and my wife who’s passed away 22 years ago and my son knocked a little hole through the wall and started tidying it up. It took us about 6 years then we started growing and then it just went on and on and on. Then my son became of age and it’s just kept on going until we’re here today.

The artwork if you want call it artwork, like the figures they’re not perfect. The noses are out of sync and the arms are too long and that you know what I mean, but they look like what they are. You know what I mean.

Count every face, you might count seventy odd, you’ll not count them all because there’s too many. You’ll not see them all.

The entire premises here it’s never had anything bought and all these bits of things, little games and that they’re all gifts. Even the pew in the church was give us. We made a peace tree, Carl my son made a Peace Tree, they started taking it serious, we kept going in a night and it said “To my dearest brother Alfred” and I thought this is no joke I’m going to have to have a bit of respect here.

We have a visitors book in our little church I’ve found that if someone leaves a comment good. then next person out of management would probably do the same, they’d say “beautiful little garden, mysterious enjoyed it.”

Rectory Nurseries promotional video produced by James Hooton.

All in all Rectory Nurseries is an experience like no other, described by some as a miniature Port Portmeirion the sculptures, artwork and associated objects are amusing, thought provoking and  truly unique.  Well worth a visit and always something new to see.