Gardens and gardening

Fry's Gardens, otherwise Bridge End Gardens, were initiated by Francis Gibson, a member of a well-known Quaker family. The grounds included a rose garden, vegetable and fruit gardens, and a maze of yew hedges. The latter (pictured here) was not open to the public, but the key could be obtained from Mr Swan (in the bowler hat).

Situated a mile or so from Midhurst, the King Edward VII Sanatorium was conceived in 1901, the year before the King’s coronation, 'for the care of educated persons of limited means who were suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis’. The sanatorium was opened by Edward VII in 1906. Patients suffering from consumption were encouraged to spend time outside. They worked in the sanatorium gardens planting, hoeing and weeding, and played gentle games such as croquet, while the sunshine and fresh air helped their recovery.

The remarkable holly hedge of Pennyhill Park in Surrey grew in places up to 40 feet high. This is now a lost view - the hedge was cut down around 2000.

Mr I Swatridge tells us his memory of this photograph: "My grandfather used to play in the gardens when he was a child. His father was the police superintendent so he lived next door to the gardens between 1910 and 1920. The gardener was called Mr Judd , who lived in ludbourne road . My grand father described Mr judd as a very stern little man who maintained control over any unruly youngsters and quickly dispersed them . I presume that meant my grandfather was unruly ! Mr Judd's son was called George who was a school mate of my grandfather at Abbey Road school."