Celebrating Marnock
Sheffield Botanical Gardens is partnering with the Gardens Trust to celebrate Scottish landscape gardener, horticulturalist and writer Robert Marnock (1800 - 1889).
As well as being designer and curator of botanical gardens in Sheffield and London, Marnock undertook a substantial number of private commissions across the country, plus sites in Italy and Belgium. He had a significant impact on the landscape of Sheffield and elsewhere.
This is an online exhibition about Marnock's life, work and style.
Here you will find a map showing Marnock sites around the country, copies of botanical illustrations from the magazines he published, and information on everything from the stories behind the plants he chose in the 19th century to Friends groups who are safeguarding his designs today.
Celebratory events took place throughout Summer 2023 at Marnock sites - talks, walks, exhibitions, art sessions, volunteer training, kids’ activities and more. You can see details of some of these activities below.
Even though the events have finished, this website will continue to be updated with news and views on Marnock. Please contact us on: laura.alston@sheffield.gov.uk or
jill.sinclair@thegardenstrust.org if you have information or images to share about Marnock.
Two online talks on Marnock
The Gardens Trust is offering two online talks on Marnock in January 2024.
BBC Bargain Hunt features Marnock
A clip from Bargain Hunt featuring Marnock and Sheffield Botanical Gardens.
Project Evaluation
Thanks to everyone who has been involved with Celebrating Marnock. We continue to be keen to receive posts, photographs and other information for the website, but the 2023 events have now concluded and we have conducted a brief evaluation of the project.
FOLAR: Robert Marnock Special
We’re delighted that FOLAR (the Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading) have run a special feature on Marnock in their October 2023 bulletin.
Brent Elliott talk
The recording of a talk by Dr Brent Elliott on ‘Marnock - giant of 19th century gardening’ is available to enjoy on YouTube, thanks to organisers, The Streatham Society.
Celebrating Marnock Volunteers
The Gardens Trust Historic Landscape Volunteering Celebrations in September 2023 were an opportunity to mark the contributions of many volunteers to the Marnock project.
Marnock-Themed Plant Tour
Chris Beevers of the Yorkshire Gardens Trust reports on a guided tour of plants used by Marnock.
Victorian-Style Celebrations
A Marnock park in Kent hosted an evening walk and Victorian-themed picnic as part of Celebrating Marnock.
Sheffield Exhibition
Sheffield Botanical Gardens has hosted a month-long exhibition of original editions of Marnock’s Floricultural Magazine alongside display boards telling stories from his life and work.
Marnock in the news
Regional news station KentOnline has reported on the Marnock mural at the entrance to Grosvenor and Hilbert Park.
Fair Mile Hospital today
Bettina Kirkham of the Berkshire Gardens Trust is researching two Marnock sites as part of the celebrations. Here we share her contemporary photos of Fair Mile in Cholsey.
Marnock as Street Art
Thanks to Carolyn Gray for alerting us to the new Marnock mural at the entrance to Grosvenor and Hilbert Park in Tunbridge Wells.
Milner Field - a cursed design?
Marnock designed the grounds for a mansion in West Yorkshire that has long been abandoned after bad luck hit each of its owners in turn.
Plant Histories 3
Tracing the story of how one of the conifers planted by Marnock came into cultivation in Britain.
Marnock’s Obituary
Read an obituary by Marnock’s protégé and friend William Robinson from The Garden in 1889.
Celebrating Marnock on the BBC
This Autumn the BBC’s Bargain Hunt will feature a segment on Robert Marnock and the history of Sheffield Botanical Gardens.
New Research on Marnock in Sussex
A timely article comes out in the July edition of the Garden Trust’s Garden History journal, on Marnock’s work at Alexandra Park, Hastings.
Sheffield Marnock Trail
The Sheffield Marnock Trail! Take this audio trail through Marnock sites in Sheffield.
Events
Here you can review some of the Celebrating Marnock events that took place over the summer of 2023.
