Dragged out of Retirement

Last Tuesday I met up with Wills at London Bridge station.... we went on to Waterloo and left by the rear entrance in search of a "full english" (breakfast).... which we found in a little "kaff". I think us two bursting through the door startled a few of the workmen sat enjoying there breakfast, but the staff were wonderfully inviting, and perched at a little table for two, in the window, in full sun, we had exactly what we were looking for ! (foodwise! lol).
From there we wandered through the back streets and a little public park and arrived at the Garden Museum situated next to Lambeth Palace.

I last went to the museum some years ago with Franco (london1967), since when it has had a major refit. The building itself is an old church, the rediscovery of the tomb of 17th century plant hunters, the John Tradescants, in the churchyard of St Mary-at-Lambeth led to the saving of the church from demolition and the founding of the Museum of Garden History in 1977. While the building is one of great beauty its original purpose was not to house an historic collection and as the 20th century wore on St Mary’s struggled to work as a modern museum. In October 2007 a competition for the design of a new interior was organised. The winner, London based architects Dow Jones, devised a free standing timber structure to create a contemporary space, including the first gallery in Britain for exhibitions in garden design. The makeover was complete when, to reflect the constantly evolving nature of gardening, the Museum of Garden History became The Garden Museum. it's now a lovely mix of historical and modern blonde wood and has managed to keep a great atmosphere.

The Museum’s 17th century style knot garden with historically authentic planting was created in 1981 and formally opened by the Queen Mother in 1983. It was designed by the Museum’s President, The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury, who was at that time also making the gardens at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire where John Tradescant the Elder had been gardener from 1610 to 1615.

I had spotted an event (hence our trip) which was the Museum’s annual opening of its Auricula Theatre by the said Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury who was there to give a talk about the history of auriculas. Sadly we just missed the talk, and the free glass of champagne (not like us to miss out on something like that!), but had a wander about the garden and a look at the auricula theatre and took photos, then had a coffee sat out enjoying the sun again, in what is a little oasis of calm and beauty. After a look around the indoor exhibitions and the gift shop(!) we left empty-handed (shock horror). The best of the auriculas on sale had been picked over.... and nothing "pushed us over the edge" to spend in the shop.

Here is a little slide show of the morning.