At this time of year many of us are spending our free time in the garden. Our collections reveal a passion for gardening going back centuries.
Changing fashions
Plans for alterations to the grounds at Frampton House demonstrate the changing fashions in eighteenth century garden design (reference: D-SHE/22). In 1778 a survey of the grounds shows a very formal landscape with neat walks, regimented orchards and the River Frome diverted into canals and ponds. This style of garden was influenced by French and Dutch design but by the end of the 18th century a new ‘natural’ style of garden had come into fashion. Pioneered by such designers as Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown the English Romantic Style sought to enhance the beauty of the natural landscape.
At Frampton most of the canals, ponds and orchards were swept away to be replaced with a more ‘wild’ landscape with artfully positioned clumps of trees. Shockingly perhaps is the fact that most of the homes, the mill and even the Red Lion Inn which lay south of the Dorchester Road, which were owned by estate, were also swept away to be replaced by this wild ‘natural’ landscape.
The UK’s first garden centre
Garden fashions are also reflected in the records of Britain’s first garden centre. After being inspired on a trip to America in 1955, Ted Stewart initially turned their Ferndown nursery into a small garden-centre. In 1961 the family opened Garden-lands in Christchurch – an event which was reported to have caused a “double line of traffic nearly half a mile long”! The Stewarts archive (reference: D-STW) tracks the development of this small local business from the 1860s to continuing success today.
Recent discovery
Recently volunteer Cat discovered a beautiful plan of gardens on the Bladen Estate in Briantspuddle. The plan dates from 1924 and features what must be an early example of a car wash among detailed drawings of planting and pathways.
If you are seeking inspiration for your next gardening project the archives may just have what you’re looking for!