Sheffield Botanical Gardens: a history: Volume 1 (1826-1844)

By R Alison Hunter and Daniel Q. King

Sheffield Botanical Gardens were first opened in 1836. This first volume traces development of the popular movement to create the Gardens within the context of the growing town of Sheffield. A Botanical and Horticultural Society was formed to raise funds for the project and a design competition was held. The winner was Robert Marnock, a highly regarded landscape gardener, who was appointed the Curator with the task of laying out the Gardens in the fashionable 'Gardenesque' style. Local architect Benjamin Broomhead Taylor was employed to design the conservatories, gatehouse and other buildings. The Committee of Management forged ahead with plans, drawing up rules and recruiting shareholders. An estimated 15,000 people attended over the four opening days in June/July 1836. However, access to the Gardens was restricted to Shareholders and Subscribers for most of the season, with only the concession of a few 'Gala Days' open to the general public. Horticultural shows were popular and exhibitors included such notable gardeners as Joseph Paxton of Chatworth House and Joseph Harrison of Wortley Hall.When a global recession hit the steel and cutlery industries hard, finance became a problem and the Society failed in 1844. Previous attempts to reconstruct the early history of the Gardens have been difficult as the minutes of the Botanical and Horticultural Society have not survived. Careful research of archives, gardening magazines and local newspapers has resulted in the the accumulation of reports about the Society's meetings and events in the Gardens, all of which have been transcribed and, along with maps and illustrations, are included in the book.The appendices include a catalogue of plants in the Gardens, first published in 1838, and biographic notes on the curators, architect, patrons and known shareholders. Future publications are planned to document the continued existence of the Gardens up to the present day.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1546889752
• ISBN13: 9781546889755
• Release Date: July 2017
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.0" x 10.0"