About 2,000 people are believed to have wandered through Castletown’s hidden gardens over a two-day event.

Eighteen gardens threw their gates open to the public for a total of nine hours over the weekend.

They included the garden of Bagnio House on Arbory Street, which the programme states is possibly the oldest recorded domestic garden in the island. It is mentioned in records of 1511 as a ’bathhouse and pleasure garden’ for officers of the castle.

The whole event is a tour de force, said Pauline Stewart, chairman of Castletown Heritage which has organised the weekend for the last 17 years.

Preparations began months ago with the identification of gardens and enlisting of gardeners to take part.

Then came the design and printing of the programmes and publicity.

’But it is definitely worth it,’ said Pauline. ’It was a huge success.’

’A thousand programmes were printed and they all went, but you could share it, so there were more people. One property had 1,000 through their garden another counted 100 an hour and they were open for nine hours. It was an enormous success, my guess is there were 2,000 people.’

The one element they couldn’t control - the weather - was also on their side and warm sunny conditions helped to lure visitors.

Takings topped £1,000; programmes were £2 each, minus expenses.

’We have gone through £1,000. We have broken our own records,’ she said. ’We are delighted with it.

’We are about promoting and supporting the heritage of Castletown. The large amount raised means we can think a little bigger about what we want to do, that may be an exhibition, projects with schools and perhaps we can start something new and exciting.’