Thursday 30 May 2013

The Garden History Museum


The first place Sandy and I visited on our trip to London was the Garden History Museum.  For anyone interested in gardening, this is well worth a visit if you are in London.   Set up in the ancient church of St. Mary’s, which is on the south bank of the Thames, next to Lambeth Palace and opposite the houses of Parliament.    The church interior has been transformed into a centre for exhibitions, events and lectures.  There is a fascinating and permanent display of garden tools, ephemera and historic artefacts.


Outside is the magnificent tomb of the first great gardener and plant hunter John Tradescant  and his son, also John.  It was in the discovery of this important tomb that in 1977 the abandoned church, which was due to be demolished, was rescued and the Museum was set up.   The panels on the sides of the tomb depict objects from the Tradescants' collections.





The Garden was created in 1980 and the central knot garden  was designed by the President of the Museum, The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury.     The garden is planted with species introduced by the Tradescants , and many others grown by them in their own Lambeth garden.  


Tomb of Vice Admiral Wm. Bligh, Captain of HMS Bounty when the now infamous mutiny, led by Fletcher Christian, took place.




 

2 comments:

  1. What an interesting place, and lovely gardens.

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    1. Hi - yes it was very interesting - and the old garden tools were fascinating. Unfortunately no pictures allowed in the museum! Thanks for visiting my blog. Wish I was in Australia now!

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