How well draining is the soil and what aspect is the arch?

It is a heavy clay soil, an exposed garden & I would say its a southerly aspect.I live in north cumbria. As with most places the ground has been waterlogged this year.

My clematis Armandii is growing in a very windy spot on an arch in very heavy clay.It does get quite wet in my side garden(where it is) but maybe not as wet as you describe!
It has been growing for about 7 years now! It's a real beauty.Fast growing but not as fast as Russian vine and evergreen! scented spring flowers!

Thankyou. I'll read up on it.

I have Russian Vine, at least 5 years old. Am not finding it rampant at all, my Montana Clematis grew like mad last year. The soil is pretty dry though being next to a South facing wall.

Kerria japonica is the climber that I think you should go for. It can be trained around an arch, is almost evergreen and has lots of yellow flowers. It also likes wet clay soil. I have some at the bottom of my garden.

Thankyou for your replies. I liked the idea of C.Montana but my husband doesn't like it. I didn't realise Kerria Japonica was a climber, worth a go. Also like the idea of a scented flower re C Armandii, Roll on some dry weather & planting something that will survive.

C.Montana Elizabeth is easy of the eye. It has plain white flowers and the leaves turn dark red as the summer progresses. It is a 3 year plant, first year sulk (like 6 inches), second it grows to 4ft then 3rd mine was over 9ft.

Kerria is not strictly a climber but the growth is easily trained up an arch and can be treated as such.

Thankyou for your suggestion,it sounds & looks good. I have now a thought on the Damask Rose & wonder if my clay soil would suit it, perhaps an answer would be to contain any plant in a large pot.

my Montana Elizabeth was pink flowered Kilder. So is my replacenet one when it died after 16 yrs. It died when my daughter elizabeth left home for uni in wales. spooky!

Yes, I've only ever seen pink C Montana Elizabeth!

Mine is very pale pink to white.

I'll take a look in catalogues & garden centres when the weather warms up.Thanks to everyone who has helped with suggestions.

http://www.rumwoodnurseries.co.uk/roses/roses_catalogue.html do what they call climbing patio roses. They raarekly grow more than 2.5m so would be ideal for an archway. Have a look and then visit nurseries and garden centres near you. At this time of year there are bargains to be had as they clear out last years stock. There will be nothing wrong wiith the plants but they do need planting out of their nursery pots. Get them in asap for flowers this year. Roses thrive on neglect to a point and will grow in most soils. I would not plant Kerria unless in a pot. It ran all over my garden and got in between roots of other more precious plants. I'm still digging it out. Euonymous or bay with nasturtiums growing through for summer colour might appeal to you.

Thankyou. I love roses & think it a great idea to research the offers.