Robert Marnock
Encyclopedia
Robert Marnock was one of the outstanding horticulturalists and garden designers of the 19th century and was considered by his contemporaries to be the best exponent of the gardenesque school of landscape gardening.
Before he came to Sheffield
, Marnock worked as the head gardener in Bretton Hall (now the Yorkshire Sculpture Park
), Wakefield
between 1829 and 1833. He was appointed by the Sheffield Botanical and Horticultural Society in 1833 to design and lay out the Botanical Gardens, at an annual salary of £100. Marnock designed the Botanical Gardens in the then highly fashionable Gardenesque
style. He became the first curator of the Gardens in 1836. A major restoration of the Gardens, completed in summer 2008, reinstated elements of Marnock's design.
In 1839, Marnock moved on to lay out the gardens of the Royal Botanic Society of London
in Regent's Park
and was appointed as the gardens' curator on the advice of J.C. Loudon. He left this post in 1863 but continued to practise in his profession as a landscape gardener until 1879. Another of his achievements was the landscaping of the grounds of Avenue House
, Finchley
, north London, the property of ink magnate Henry Charles Stephens
.
Marnock was editor of The Floricultural Magazine for four years.
One of the best preserved examples of his work is Dunorlan Park
in Royal Tunbridge Wells
which has recently undergone a £2.8 million transformation to restore it to the original Marnock design. The park is now on English Heritage
's National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
.
Before he came to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Marnock worked as the head gardener in Bretton Hall (now the Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park in West Bretton, Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England is an open-air gallery showing work by UK and international artists, including Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth...
), Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
between 1829 and 1833. He was appointed by the Sheffield Botanical and Horticultural Society in 1833 to design and lay out the Botanical Gardens, at an annual salary of £100. Marnock designed the Botanical Gardens in the then highly fashionable Gardenesque
Gardenesque
The term gardenesque was introduced by John Claudius Loudon to describe a style of planting design in accordance with his 'Principle of Recognition'.-Definitions:...
style. He became the first curator of the Gardens in 1836. A major restoration of the Gardens, completed in summer 2008, reinstated elements of Marnock's design.
In 1839, Marnock moved on to lay out the gardens of the Royal Botanic Society of London
Royal Botanic Society
The Royal Botanic Society was a learned society founded in 1839. Its purpose was to promote "botany in all its branches, and its applications." Soon after it was established, it leased the grounds within the Inner Circle in Regent's Park, London for use as an experimental garden...
in Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
and was appointed as the gardens' curator on the advice of J.C. Loudon. He left this post in 1863 but continued to practise in his profession as a landscape gardener until 1879. Another of his achievements was the landscaping of the grounds of Avenue House
Avenue House
Avenue House is a large Victorian house situated on East End Road in Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet.Built in 1859 on land formerly known as Temple Croft Field, it was acquired in 1874 by ink magnate Henry Charles Stephens who enlarged and improved the house and grounds with advice from...
, Finchley
Finchley
Finchley is a district in Barnet in north London, England. Finchley is on high ground, about north of Charing Cross. It formed an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, becoming a municipal borough in 1933, and has formed part of Greater London since 1965...
, north London, the property of ink magnate Henry Charles Stephens
Henry Charles Stephens
Henry Charles "Inky" Stephens was an English businessman and Conservative Party politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1887 to 1900 as the Member of Parliament for the Hornsey division of Middlesex....
.
Marnock was editor of The Floricultural Magazine for four years.
One of the best preserved examples of his work is Dunorlan Park
Dunorlan Park
Dunorlan Park is a park and grounds in Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK.Totalling approximately 78 acres and containing a lake, the grounds were landscaped by Robert Marnock for Henry Reed, the merchant and philanthropist who owned the estate and the now-demolished house that once overlooked...
in Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
which has recently undergone a £2.8 million transformation to restore it to the original Marnock design. The park is now on English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
's National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
In England, the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England provides a listing and classification system for historic parks and gardens similar to that used for listed buildings. The register is managed by English Heritage under the provisions of the National...
.