Winter Lecture 2025 - Wednesday, 19 November 2025 at 18.30 (Doors open 18.00)
Tales from the Nineteenth Century Horticultural Trade Press - Part Two
The BGHG Winter Lecture is held in late autumn each year and is OPEN TO ALL.
The second half of the 1800s saw a flourishing gardening press that gave voice to British horticulturists—from estate gardeners to public park pioneers. These lively periodicals captured the rise of professional gardening, scientific breakthroughs, and the emergence of the garden ‘expert’ in national newspapers. Careers were made and unmade as writers—both amateur and institutional—shared advice, debated theories, and showcased the latest innovations
Join Dr Francesca Murray as she digs into overlooked gems of the era, including the short-lived Villa Garden by William Earley of Valentine’s Park, his column in Lloyds Weekly, and the beautifully illustrated Florist and Pomologist led by Robert Hogg. Explore Shirley Hibberd’s Gardeners’ Magazine and The Floral and Amateur Gardening, Cassell’s Popular Gardening series featuring head gardener D.T. Fish, and The British Gardener, the voice of the first gardeners’ trade union.
Dr Francesca Murray studied horticulture and garden design at Berkshire College of Agriculture before running her own garden design business. She has an MA in Garden History and has recently been awarded a PhD at Queen Mary’s University of London, researching nineteenth-century gardeners, nurserymen, and the associations that came to their aid. She is a trustee of the Gardens Trust and a life member of Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust and London Parks and Gardens Trust as well as Archivist and guest speaker for Perennial (formerly known as the Gardeners Royal Benevolent Institution). She leads walks around London on the 19th century horticultural press and is a regular speaker on garden history to horticultural societies around the country.
The lecture will be held in The Lumen, 88 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RS ·Doors open from 6 pm. Tickets are £14 for members and £16 for non-members. Included in the price are a drink and nibbles after the lecture. Tickets are available through Bookwhen
See below for the content of Francesca Murray's first lecture on this topic.
Winter Lecture 2024
Tales from the Nineteenth Century Horticultural Trade Press
Francesca Murray will tell the fascinating and at times sensational story of the gardening press which emerged as a powerhouse of horticultural knowledge exchange and contributed to the professionalisation of the nineteenth-century gardening trade.
In particular, amongst other journals Francesca will discuss The Gardener’s Gazette, the first weekly gardening newspaper launched in 1837 by the champion of the florists, George Glenny, its irascible editor.
Fearlessly taking on the Horticultural Society and John Lindley, editor of the rival Gardener’s Chronicle, he was determined to advance standards of floriculture and improve the lives of working gardeners whilst of course, increasing his circulation figures.
The Lecture, open to both BGHG members and non-members alike will take place on TUESDAY, 19 November 2024 at 18.30 at The Lumen Centre, Bloomsbury. Doors will open at 18.00
For full details of the event and how to book your place see
Tales from the Nineteenth Century Horticultural Trade Press
The BGHG Winter Lecture is held in late autumn each year and is OPEN TO ALL.