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Believe it is a Ornamental thistle - Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' but you can check this out on the gardeners world web page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/11359.shtml

I loved it when I saw it at Chelsea this year and bought one when I saw it at Gardening Scotland 2 weeks later.

Thanks Anne it lasts for ages, all gone over now but is well worth the space in the garden.