The Gardens of the British Working Class

by Margaret Willes

This magnificently illustrated people’s history celebrates the extraordinary feats of cultivation by the working class in Britain, even if the land they toiled, planted, and loved was not their own. Spanning more than four centuries, from the earliest records of the laboring classes in the country to today, Margaret Willes's research unearths lush gardens nurtured outside rough workers’ cottages and horticultural miracles performed in blackened yards, and reveals the ingenious, sometimes devious, methods employed by determined, obsessive, and eccentric workers to make their drab surroundings bloom. She also explores the stories of the great philanthropic industrialists who provided gardens for their workforces, the fashionable rich stealing the gardening ideas of the poor, alehouse syndicates and fierce rivalries between vegetable growers, flower-fanciers cultivating exotic blooms on their city windowsills, and the rich lore handed down from gardener to gardener through generations. This is a sumptuous record of the myriad ways in which the popular cultivation of plants, vegetables, and flowers has played―and continues to play―an integral role in everyday British life.

Genres: History, British Literature, Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Art

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Margaret Willes studied modern history and architectural history at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She was an editor at three London publishing houses before becoming the Publisher at the National Trust, where she began the Trust's own book imprint. In addition to producing the list that included many illustrated books, she also acted as the author of works such as Memories of Childhood (1997) and Scenes from Georgian Life (2001).

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many books written about the great gardens and famous gardeners, but very few about ordinary, working class people who love gardening - this book provides some much needed redress. Willes obviously has a great depth and width of knowledge about her subject, yet she manages to convey this in a readable and understandable way, without being patronizing. She covers every aspect of gardening, from the under gardener at a big house, to the owner of a council-house window box, via jobbing gardeners, plant breeders, horticultural shows and self-sufficiency. Covering several centuries (although 'working class' is a recent term, she also considers what past centuries called 'the lower orders') to the present day, this would make a fascinating and important addition to any library of horticultural history. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in gardening and its history.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comprehensive book is a walk through centuries of gardening in all it's forms. It will excite and inform any student of the soil and point them towards the roots and subsequent evolution of what has been and remains, an economic and well-being necessity for millions. From the head gardeners of the well to do, to the agricultural labourer toiling under under the parish lamp after a long day in the fields, and the green fingered city dwellers in tenement and suburb, Willes places the reader alongside them all in their different eras and endeavours. A cracking read.

[Gareth Schweitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're interested in class, history and gardens - this book is for you! Facinating!

[Bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really in depth with lots of interesting quotes from primary sources.

[Sally Irvine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent detailed history of gardens, horticulture and society, but not always focused on wiring class! Early chapters about estates, great gardens and gardeners, plant hunters, and really only latterly got into role of horticulture fir lesser mortals. Probably because only latterly really gas much I act. And sadly the last century and current gets fairly cursory glance and becomes a bit if a list. However although disappointing I parts, it was a tour de force and a good reference book on the history of gardens and gardening.