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Gardens and gardening

Published on March 15th, 2022

Are you a keen gardener? We love this special selection of nostalgic photographs of folk hard at work in the garden, or enjoying beautiful floral displays in impressive gardens and parks.

Photo: Shapwick, Turfing 1904.


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).

Photo: Saffron Walden, Bridge End Gardens, Fry's Garden 1907.


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.

Photo: Midhurst, King Edward's Sanatorium 1907.


Photo: Exmouth, Esplanade Gardens 1906.


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.

Photo: Bagshot, Pennyhill Park, Cutting The Holly Hedge 1906.


Photo: Cranleigh, Mowing On The Common 1904.


Photo: Reading, A Gardener In Forbury Gardens 1890.


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."

Photo: Sherborne, Gardener 1912.


Photo: St Anne's, Ashton Gardens, Rose Gardens 1921.


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If you liked our "Gardens and gardening" Blog Feature, you might like to see and follow this Francis Frith board over on Pinterest.

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