Wilder and more natural gardens increased in popularity towards the end of the 1800s in a reaction against industrialization. If you’re looking to bring a Victorian touch to your garden and need some inspiration, we’ve identified six amazing Victorian gardens around the UK to visit that will undoubtedly inspire your next steps, as well as the key features you’ll want to incorporate. Image credit: English Heritage 1. BRODSWORTH HALL, YORKSHIRE Ever since Coade stone was formulated in the late 18th century, affordable cast stone ornamentshave decorated our gardens, and the Victorians took full advantage of any new technology.

The Victorian era was the beginning of the modern lawn and garden (partly in thanks to a newly-patented lawnmower). With a flourishing global market, amateur gardeners could get their hands on exotic plants and design plans—their heirloom gardens weren’t your typical native plant variety. Instead, there were geometric garden beds in the middle of the lawn, colorful annuals and perennials, shapely shrubs, and garden statuary and decor. Each garden was either heavily manicured to perfection or left to fill in and be more “natural.” Take a look at these antique garden publications and see which tips you can use in your garden today. Victorian Garden Design Tips 1. Keep your shrubs well-manicured. Ian Kirkland / Unsplash Modern cast stone ornaments from original designs are ideal and very affordable adornments. To reflect the romantic mood a scantily clad maiden or goddess might be appropriate, or two lovers embracing.In recent years, a resurgence of interest has led to new gardens being created in the Victorian style. They have been a popular feature of the Chelsea Flower Show in the 21st century. An alternative but equally authentic style was popularised by the famous Victorian gardener Gertrude Jekyll. The Victorian Kitchen Garden Companion; Harry Dodson and Jennifer Davies. London: B.B.C. Books, 1988 ISBN 0563207108

Comparably prolific to Capability Brown, the great landscape gardener Humphry Repton is credited with creating around 400 designs in his working life. A follower of Brown, Repton lived and worked later and adapted his approach to meet the changing fashions of the early 19th century. He was also something of a Renaissance man — starting out as a merchant, later a writer of several books on landscape design and a skilled painter. He used his artistic ability for his horticultural work, providing clients with 'Red Books' containing detailed and romanticised sketches of finished landscapes. When we think of Victorian gardens, we picture colourful carpet bedding, great glasshouses, elaborate fountains and statues, exotic plants and trees in arboretums. We associate them with the famous landscape designers and plant hunters of the time, but garden historian Toby Musgrave argues that Head Gardeners are the ‘Forgotten Heroes of Horticulture’. [1] It was they who had to cultivate plants on home soil and the great majority of country house gardens were designed by the Head Gardener, not by a travelling professional designer. Wilkinson is estimated to have laid out more than 75 public gardens with the MPGA. She was also an activist and political campaigner and advocated for the professionalisation of women's work, once saying: "I certainly do not let myself be underpaid [...] I know my profession and charge accordingly, as all women should do."Climbing and rambling roses decorated arches and other structures to spectacular romantic effect. With the surge of ardour in a secluded arbour with the air permeated with heady scent, the Victorian lady might have been fortunate to escape with her virtue intact. The Victorian Kitchen Garden is a 13-part British television series produced in 1987 by Keith Sheather for BBC2, based on an idea by Jennifer Davies, who later became associate producer. It recreated a kitchen garden of the Victorian era at Leverton, Berkshire (near Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire). The presenter was the horticultural lecturer, Peter Thoday, the master gardener was Harry Dodson, and the director was Keith Sheather. [1] Gardening during the Victorian era was usually characterized by the great decor and elaborate arrangements.