Garden facts and early works pt 1

The original Victorian garden and the first stages of work - 1

The story of how the garden developed

Owners:

Grenville Johnson & Alan Elms.

Location: To the rear of a Victorian terraced town house (circa 1890),

located 3 miles from Bristol city centre, Bristol, U.K.

Size:

6.1 metres x 5.5 metres (20ft x 18ft)

There is also a narrow, shaded side pathway of 4.5 metres x 2.1 metres

                                   (15 ft x 7 feet)

Soil: Heavy clay, improved with masses of good quality compost.

The majority of plants are growing in pots or containers throughout the entire garden.

Aspect: Lies on a North – south axis.

The original Victorian garden was probably typical of the countless gardens to be found at the rear of town houses that were built before the end of the 19th century.

As a child, Grenville remembers his regular visits to his grandparents in the house at 28 Kensington Road. They had purchased the property in 1900 after their wedding, and he inherited the house from his grandmother in 1972, and the house has remained in the same family for over 100 years.

Until 1972 the garden was smaller than now, as there was an outdoor Victorian ‘privy’ or toilet and a washhouse that was demolished in 1972 to give more space. There were very narrow borders that were filled with Lilies of the valley and Dahlias, and drab concrete paths that led from the house.

Grenville's  Grandfather Mark Johnson who purchased

28 Kensington Road in 1900

The 1970’s Italianate courtyard garden that was entirely removed in 2004.

There was no interest for the autumn or winter seasons, but this style of gardening was typical for the majority of suburban gardens from the years after the war until the 1960’s.

It was not until the advent of television and the growing popularity of gardening programmes and magazines in the 1990’s that gardening became more popular.

After inheriting the house, the first garden to be built in 1976 by Alan & Grenville was designed as an Italianate courtyard that was very easy to maintain.

“When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.

If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.”