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.

Jill Sinclair 30/07/2023 Jill Sinclair 30/07/2023

Marnock-Themed Plant Tour

Chris Beevers of the Yorkshire Gardens Trust reports on a guided tour of plants used by Marnock.

Jill Sinclair 14/06/2023 Jill Sinclair 14/06/2023

Plant Histories 3

Tracing the story of how one of the conifers planted by Marnock came into cultivation in Britain.

Jill Sinclair 29/05/2023 Jill Sinclair 29/05/2023

Marnock’s Plantation

Many thanks to Paul Rabbitts for these photos of conifers planted by Marnock in Leighton Buzzard over 150 years ago.

Jill Sinclair 24/05/2023 Jill Sinclair 24/05/2023

Plant Histories 2

Marnock used many exotic horticultural species in his designs. Garden historian Jill Sinclair traces the history of one of them.

Jill Sinclair 19/05/2023 Jill Sinclair 19/05/2023

Marnock in Canada

Marnock researcher Kay Keeton has alerted us to a Canadian garden that is a copy of a lost Marnock design.

Jill Sinclair 10/05/2023 Jill Sinclair 10/05/2023

Plant Histories

Students Hannah Baber and Robert Curtis, both at the University of Sheffield, have been researching the history of plants that Marnock used in Sheffield Botanical Gardens.