Get in Touch
To book your experience at The Walled Garden Sanctuary and for any information, please email sarah@sarahhenry.co.uk
Meet Sarah
My spiritual journey began as a child where I was often described as being ‘away with the fairies’ or of daydreaming in class and I guess I was! But what a lovely place to be. In 2004 I met a special soul, and I was given my very first crystals – a piece of Tiger’s Eye and a piece of Citrine. I loved the energy of them! The sun shone out of that piece of Citrine! And the Tiger’s Eye helped me to be brave through a difficult time in my life, and hence my love of crystals began.
I then met my first spiritual teacher in 2006, Pamela, who introduced me to many more crystals and I was lucky to attend a mediumship development group and open circles with her on many a Monday evening in Leeds. This was a special time in my life and the time that I came to understand that there was much more to life than just the earthly plane we walk as sentient beings.
Over the years I had experienced the healing power of Reiki and I began to send out to the universe that I would like to be taught to give Reiki healing. They say that the teacher arrives when the student is ready, and she did. On to 2022 and the lovely Cheryl came onto my path when we met on one of Jessica Harrison’s fabulous retreats (btw if you get the chance to go on one of Jess’ weekends then take it; you will have an amazing time!). Huge gratitude to Cheryl who has now attuned me to give Reiki healing.
I have recently been blessed with meeting another like-minded soul, Elke Rosenberg, and have been honoured to be able to participate in her crystal healing course in Richmond, London. Elke has an amazing energy and taught me so much about crystals.
I would like to thank all of my spiritual teachers; those who have been and those yet to come. Thank you for the lessons you have brought me and for helping me overcome the ‘tests’. I am grateful to you all for helping me to grow spiritually. And thank you to St Oswald for helping me with my healing work at Nostell Priory and for allowing me to be in the sanctuary in the garden. I am deeply grateful. God bless you.
At the Walled Garden Sanctuary I have lovingly recreated a little spiritual sanctuary for you to land, to be, to recharge, and to reconnect with yourself. With an enchanting energy and built over an old monastery with magical histories, you are invited to come and spend some time looking after your soul.
One-to-ones are available either Reiki, crystal healing or simply talking time. Appointments made by email sarah@sarahhenry.co.uk over 18 years only. Retreats are run regularly throughout the year.
Nostell Priory & St Oswald
The name ‘Nostell Priory’ refers to an Augustinian priory founded on the site in the early 12th century, dedicated to St Oswald, an Anglo-Saxon King of Northumbria. St Oswald was thought to have been born in or around the year 604. It is believed that St Oswald “ended his life in prayer”, that he prayed for the souls of his soldiers when he saw that he was about to die around the year 641/2.
St Oswald was a visionary and very spiritual man and I believe his energy is still very much present at Nostell. He was a generous and kind soul and was known to help those in need in his time. When he died, Oswald who had been a King soon came to be regarded as a saint. It is said the spot where he died came to be associated with miracles, and people would take dirt from the site, which led to a hole being dug as deep as a man’s height. Reginald of Durham recounts another miracle, saying that St Oswald’s right arm was taken by a bird (perhaps a raven) to an ash tree, which gave the tree ageless vigour. When the bird dropped the arm onto the ground, a spring emerged from the ground. Both the tree and the spring were, according to Reginald, subsequently associated with healing miracles. Aspects of the legend have been considered to have pagan overtones or influences and this may represent a fusion of his status as a traditional Germanic warrior-King with Christianity. The name of the site, Oswestry, or “Oswald’s Tree” is generally thought to be derived from Oswald’s death there and the legends surrounding it. His feast day is 5 August. The cult surrounding him even gained prominence in parts of continental Europe.
The historian Bede recounts Oswald’s generosity to the poor and to strangers, and tells a story highlighting this characteristic: on one occasion, at Easter, Oswald was sitting at dinner with Aidan, and had “a silver dish full of dainties before him”, when a servant, whom Oswald “had appointed to relieve the poor”, came in and told Oswald that a crowd of the poor were in the streets begging alms from the king. Oswald, according to Bede, then immediately had his food given to the poor and even had the dish broken up and distributed. Aidan was greatly impressed and seized Oswald’s right hand, stating: “May this hand never perish.” Accordingly, Bede reports that the hand and arm remained uncorrupted after Oswald’s death.
After holding its place in history for over 400 years the priory was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1540 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Sadly, the priory was seized and depredated in 1540. The Nostell Priory estate now occupies 300 acres of stunning parkland. Within the grounds and gardens are lakeside walks and woodlands. The main house is now a National Trust property, and its vista looks out towards a beautiful view of meadows and grazing land for farm animals. Behind the house is a beautiful lake and more gardens. Many ancient trees stand tall and proud over the Nostell estate parklands. Over the druid’s bridge an enjoyable stroll through wildflower meadows takes you to the restored ancient Obelisk Lodge, a parkland gatehouse, built in the 17th century and lived in right up to the 1950s.
Ancient obelisks are monolithic and consist of a single stone; where most modern obelisks are made of several stones like this one. If you study carefully you can see the link to the Egyptians with the pyramid at the top.
How To Find Us
You will find us in our healing space at The Switzer Suite, The Nostell Estate Yard, Nostell, Wakefield, WF4 1AB.
By Car
Leaving the A638 main Doncaster road, if you have come from Wakefield direction you will be turning left, if you haven’t you will be turning right.
Go through the large iron gates, the main entrance to Nostell Priory carpark, then turn left towards the business park instead of right to the usual car park for walking. You will pass the small church and a graveyard and then will see the business park ahead where it is free car parking for you.
The Switzer Suite is the small building on the right hand side with two blue doors which you will see when you drive in. The kettle will be on 🙂
By Bus
Services from Wakefield to Doncaster. 485 Wakefield to South Emsall via Ackworth and 496 Wakefield to Upton via Fitzwilliam. The 485 and 496 stop outside Nostell Priory gates on Doncaster Road.
By Train
We are 1½ miles from Fitzwilliam station.
By Bike
National Cycle Network route 67 (NCN67), 3 miles
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