Wisteria a turn-off!!!!???? That means the entire village of Dedham is "out" for housebuyers then? Good! Maybe I'll be able to afford to live there one day!

And what about roses - my God surely they're just as old-fashioned?

I think it depends on the style of the house - my Victorian semi suits wisteria and roses and would look ghastly with one of those "extension to my living space with matching colour scheme rendered concrete designer gardens vintage 2007" around it (though I agree about the pampas grass and Leylandii. )

I have very often admired the wisteria growing around some of the dwellings and envy the people who have managed to keep it going.

It's quite easy to keep wisteria growing. When I moved to an old house a I was advised to cut the old wisteria tree back to the woody branches when the weather gets cold (early December seems to be a good time) and the tree thanks you for it the following year. My wisteria has flowered three times each year following this brutal treatment.