On 11th May 2022 9:37am, CovArchives said: : the diary of John Whittingham, a gardener at Stoke Farm between 1746 and 1781, who describes his visit to Charterhouse in 1753 which we have recently digitised.
Helen F
Warrington |
1 of 31
Tue 13th Dec 2022 6:38pm
An item of interest in the Coventry Archives is a journal by John Whittingham of Stoke Farm. Now available to see on Coventry Digital here.
If you select newest first, you get the start of the transcribed version by Barbara Patch. Whittingham was a notable experimental horticulturist and supplied plants, bushes and trees to many substantial houses. For a time he was based at Charterhouse.
On 11th May 2022 9:37am, CovArchives said: : the diary of John Whittingham, a gardener at Stoke Farm between 1746 and 1781, who describes his visit to Charterhouse in 1753 which we have recently digitised.
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Memories and Nostalgia - John Whittingham, horticulturalist | ||||||||||||||||||||
Robthu
Coventry |
2 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 6:14am
A very under-rated man, he is responsible for clothing the gardens of most of the country's large estates of the time, his plant catalogue surpasses most modern-day nurseries.
He was also a bit of a firebrand. Coventry should note him a lot more.
Rob or Helen, do you think it is permissible for me to put a copy of his Plant Catalogue on the forum? |
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Helen F
Warrington Thread starter
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3 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 8:36am
Not really my call but I don't see why you couldn't post a sample and if anyone wants all of it then you/we can get them a copy. ![]() |
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Robthu
Coventry |
4 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 2:16pm
Front page of John Whittingham's catalogue, a lot of these would take some finding today.
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Helen F
Warrington Thread starter
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5 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 3:02pm
It astonishes me that he got fruit off some of those trees given the climate. |
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Robthu
Coventry |
6 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 4:26pm
There are ways and means, Helen. Cow/horse muck mixed with straw to make hotbeds. The big houses were kept in all sorts of fancy fruit and veg 12 months of the year. Try YouTube 'Victorian Kitchen Gardener' for some insight. You could make up a hot box for outside now and it would cook a pie and if you put your hand in you would be severely burnt. The garden walls were left with a cavity in them and the boiler house piped heat down them and the wall was warm enough for some quite exotic things. |
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Midland Red
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7 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 5:22pm
I'm keen to add this man to our Famous Coventrians list, but I haven't tracked down any personal details (birth year and place, date of death). |
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heathite
Coventry |
8 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 7:51pm
There may be a clue or lead in these images or the information shown,
I am guessing but the best clue is that he is a nurseryman.
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Annewiggy
Tamworth |
9 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 9:29pm
Derby Mercury, 30th October 1794. He died in Derby.
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Annewiggy
Tamworth |
10 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 9:38pm
Birmingham Gazette, 7th Feb 1763.
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Annewiggy
Tamworth |
11 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 9:44pm
Aris's Birmingham Gazette.
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Helen F
Warrington Thread starter
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12 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 9:46pm
That interesting Heathite, thanks.
His father was recorded as a gardener and also called John Whittingham 29 June 1696 to 1760s. Supposedly the nurseryman John was born about 1722 and died sometime after October 1781. His journal stops in January 1781 and he was potentially struck with 'madness' which could have been a stroke or dementia. He might have been moved to another place. Both he, his son Charles and Mr Collingridge were Catholics and while they had influential friends they were limited in their power. At that time I believe the Catholics were based in Little Park Street but in 1795 there is a record of a Whittingham, probably Charles, setting up a temporary church in his garden. Reported to be in either Much Park Street or Mitford Street. Mitford Street is assumed to be Smithford Street but it might be Midsford Street, another name for Much Park Street. |
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Helen F
Warrington Thread starter
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13 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 9:51pm
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Annewiggy
Tamworth |
14 of 31
Wed 14th Dec 2022 9:52pm
Last one. Aris's Birmingham Gazette, 22nd October 1753.
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Robthu
Coventry |
15 of 31
Thu 15th Dec 2022 6:55am
Try this! Credit to Dr Ruth Barbour.
![]() John Whittingham (gardener) = m. Mary Parker 1720
Woodcote Chapelry, Sheriffhales
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Memories and Nostalgia - John Whittingham, horticulturalist |
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