The Garden History Blog

William Style and his garden…

Posted on 23/02/2019 by The Garden History Blog

William Style of Langley, unknown artist, 1636, Tate Britain

I used to think early 17thc portraits were rather dull and dreary, and in galleries would generally walk past them rather fast. They had neither the austere simplicity of many early Tudor portraits, nor the flamboyant excesses of Stuart ones. Of course I should have known better because when I began researching gardens of the period for my Ph.D I began to realise what I was missing. Take this picture of William Style of Langley which is on display in Tate Britain. At first sight its a portrait of a well-dressed and presumably wealthy man, standing at the entrance to his house and looking out over an elaborately structural “green” garden. And of course it can be read like that – but only superficially. Looking beyond the obvious reveals a lot more… especially the fact that pictures can be just as deceptive and complex as words. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged emblem, Jacobean, mannerism | 1 Comment

How Orchids became a Librarian’s Nightmare

Posted on 16/02/2019 by The Garden History Blog

Renanthera coccinea, the first orchid in Bateman’ collection.
photo from Flickr by Luiz Filipe Varella, 2017

It maybe a strange title but this is really the story of a rich young man and his passion for plants or rather one particular kind of plant. James Bateman was the grandson and son of rich industrialists who had made their money out of steam power, coal and iron. They owned mills and mines before moving into banks and land. All this meant James did not have to lift a finger to be, and stay, rich, and that he could indulge his love of plants.

An unfinished Spode plate showing Knypersley Hall. Image from Pam Woolliscroft: “Pots of Orchids: the Spode Bateman Connection” 2013

His parents were keen gardeners at their home, Knypersley Hall in Staffordshire and even as a student at Oxford James was collecting and learning about plants. In particular he visited the nursery there of Thomas Fairburn who had been gardener to Joseph Banks. Fairburn introduced him to orchids:

“Of course, I fell in love at first sight, and as Mr. Fairburn asked only a guinea for his plant (high prices not yet in vogue), it soon changed hands and travelled with me to Knypersley, when the Christmas holidays began. I had caught my first orchid….”

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged augusta withers, botanical art, conservatory, cruikshank, Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Gardener's Chronicle, gardening books, greenhouse, hothouse, James Bateman, John Lindley, Loddiges, nurserymen, orchids, plant hunters, Queen Adelaide, Royal Horticultural Society, Wililiam Hooker | 2 Comments

Visiting a Duke 18thc style…

Posted on 09/02/2019 by The Garden History Blog

Grimsthorpe Castle © Chris 2017

At the end of last year I wrote about the travel journals of John Byng, 5th Viscount Torrington. His diaries are, unlike most 18thc published writing, quite informal in style , probably because he had no intention of putting his thoughts into print. Whereas most of his contemporaries write of the almost constant wars that form the background to this period or the political situation of the days, Byng virtually ignores such mundane matters.

John Byng by Ozias Humphry, 1796 from The Torrington Diaries

Instead he concentrates on the English countryside and its people, enjoying himself as an interested observer of little details. He describes the buildings, gardens and landscapes he visited, and the people of all kinds he met, and not always in the most flattering way. Take for example his visits on what he called “A Tour in the Midlands” in 1789….

The castle seen over the lake © Copyright Tim Heaton 2006

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged antiquarian, grimsthorpe, Humphry Repton, John Byng, John Vanbrugh, monastery, ruins, rustic, Topiary, tourism, travel, William Stukeley | Leave a comment

Arundel Castle and the Collector Earl’s Garden

Posted on 02/02/2019 by The Garden History Blog

DM June 2018

I’ve been meaning to write about the gardens of Arundel Castle since I visited last summer with friends from the Birkbeck Garden History Group and discovered the new[ish] Collector Earl’s Garden with [amongst other things] Oberon’s Palace, a floating crown, and an amazing stumpery. I added it to the long list of possible future posts but something else always got in the way. However, my memory was jogged sharply when I discovered an account of the castle’s grounds – rather less than flattering – by John Claudius Loudon in 1829.

The main question now is whether to start with the good or the bad review…

https://medium.com/@gmarlowe/shot-the-2016-arundel-castle-tulip-festival-d07ccc98b104

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 17thc, arundel, Gardeners Magazine, inigo jones, John Claudius Loudon, mannerism, Norfolk, Stumperies, subtropical, sussex, tulips | Leave a comment

Austin & Seeley

Posted on 26/01/2019 by The Garden History Blog

Flora, thought to be c.1870

Many months ago I posted several pieces tracing the story of Eleanor Coade and her artificial stone, which ornamented elite buildings and gardens in the later 18thc. A later post looked at the work of Mark Blanchard and John Blashfield two of her successor companies, and today is a look at yet another: Felix Austin, who was much admired by John Claudius Loudon.

As is so often the case very little is accurately known about Austin or his story, but what is clear is that after an independent start he went into partnership with John Seeley and their company, Austin & Seeley, became one of the leaders in the field of architectural and garden ornaments by the mid-19th century supplying every one from the middle classes to Queen Victoria herself.