The estate at Danesfield, near Medmenham was regarded by our Victorian forebears as blessed with a special kind of romantic beauty. "To few gentleman's estates has nature been so lavishly kind as to Danesfield". There was the natural beauty of its hillside spot and riverside setting, and the created cultivated attraction of it's more formal gardens. And the latter was largely the work of unsung hero and Head Gardener Edward Croker and his large team of assistants. Edward was in charge of Danesfield for 40 years, and the garden changed hugely during this time.
Born in Kent, Edward arrived at Danesfield in 1860 when he was around 28-30 years old. Shortly afterwards he married estate laundry maid Arabella Turrall, who had been born in Warwickshire. Their daughter Cecilia would also work at Danesfield as a young women (in the position of domestic nurse.) At the time many advertisements for head gardeners indicated a preference or even requirement for the applicant to be married as it was considered it made for a "steadier" man. Sometimes it was also because the head gardener tended to be supplied with his own self contained accomodation. The wife so housed might fulfil a role at the "big house" and would not then need to be found separate accomodation. On the other hand, it was often preferred that the younger junior gardeners would be unmarried so they could share lodgings all together or live with another servant. It was Edwards employee Charles Robert Scott Murray who had organised construction of a dedicated gardeners residence in the grounds.
Danesfield was a large estate consisting of many acres of parkland, meadow and wooded areas. There were also several attached farms under the care of a bailiff or farm steward. Edward worked for the majority of his time at the estate for the Catholic Scott Murray family. Charles Robert Scott Murray was a Catholic convert and adding a private chapel to Danesfield house was one of his many religion inspired construction projects. He also built a Catholic school at Medmenham, and the Roman Catholic church, small convent and school at Marlow. He engaged in significant work to the estate itself, so Edwards life in the early years must have been one of constant change and upheaval. A public road passing through the estate was diverted to make it pass further from the house, and changes were made to the parkland to tweak it to the latest taste. Most significantly for Edward, the kitchen gardens (where fruit and vegetables were grown) were modernised. This meant fully enclosing them for the first time. This wasn't just to shut the more practical features of a working garden out of sight. Walled gardens enabled a more scientific approach to crop production. Walls and boundaries provided shelter, frost protection and more easily controlled micro climates. Edward was probably delighted at the money invested to make his growing space as practical as possible, as competitive growing of produce was taken quite seriously by most head gardeners of the time! He would have 6 acres of space in the kitchen gardens to work his magic. Some of this was an extension of the previous growing space, made in virgin ground. While engaging in digging out this new area, Edward found some ancient pottery which were described as two very large flat dishes made of burnt clay. I do not know what happened to these or the other smaller finds made by the gardeners over the years. No doubt we would find them very interesting! Edward also inherited new glasshouses provided by Scott Murray. Getting the job at Danesfield was going to a place both historic and one provided with the best growing facilities.
In the first decade of Edwards time at Danesfield in particular, garden shows were being revived or started around the Marlow area. Edward was an enthusiastic participant. He scored many prizes for his fruit and flowers. In 1865, Edward acted as a judge at the horticultural show held at Court Garden, as gentleman's gardeners and nurseryman were temporarily barred from entering classes. This was because show funds were tight and there was not enough in the budget to offer the sort of cash prizes a professional gardener would accept for his efforts. But most of the local estates sent in examples of their gardeners work purely for display (and bragging) purposes. It was no small affair, with society in attendance along with the humbler cottagers the show was supposed to inspire. Two years later, Danesfield itself hosted an horticultural show and "rural fete". Gentleman's gardeners were allowed back in and Edward secured a number of awards. I don't have the full prize list but to give an idea of award amounts, I can say that Edward's 3rd prize for fuchsias was 3s. Attendance was around 1,000. Horticultural shows were really a big attraction to our Victorian ancestors - especially when they also came with a chance to peruse a gentleman's gardens that were otherwise off limits. It was decided that the formal flower beds at Danesfield showed that the "greatest attention" had been shown in their care. Edward probably puffed his chest out a bit more after reading those words! He was also an experienced bee keeper and was often called upon to hive a swarm.
The Scott Murray's sold up in the 1895 after the heir chose to live elsewhere after a few years. Edward was kept on, although prior to the eventual sale much of the garden equipment was sold off. As were the vast number of plants Edward and the team had raised from seeds and cuttings to provide colourful bedding through the year (5000 altogether) and the lovingly tended collections of hot house and conservatory plants. It was a way to raise everything possible from the estate before it was sold. The Catholic chapel had also been removed. Edward was probably philosophical about such upheaval as he probably suspected the new owners the Hudsons would want to put their own stamp on the gardens as the Scott Murray's had done. He was right, and no doubt relieved that the Hudsons wished him to remain in charge and supervise the re modelling. Edward and Arabella were resident in a lodge at Danesfield, so loosing their job also meant loosing a home. The younger gardeners either lodged with other estate workers or used the bothy. The Hudsons actual plan turned out to involve demolishing the old house and building a new, rebuilding most of the estate cottages and yes, garden improvements. A polo ground would also be added, a popular spot for cricket matches later on. A large team of workers from near and far would come to Danesfield to work on the mansion and grounds - 60 workman were present in 1897 for example. It must have seemed a busy period of time but Edward did not live to see it's absolute completion as he sadly died in October 1901. He was survived by wife Arabella. I believe Arabella went eventually to live with her married son John in Surrey.
A visitor from The Gardening World Magazine (not the same as the similarly named modern magazine!) in 1895 remarked at the long period over which Edward had been in charge. They noted that despite his "advancing years" (he was in his mid 60s then), Edward remained personally interested in all aspects "pertaining to the gardening profession". They remarked too on the profusion of wildflowers such as primroses, bluebells, and violets that seemed to carpet the ground around the gardens. It must have made a beautiful sight at its height.
Written and researched by Kathryn Day.
Further information:
Other posts relating to Danesfield/Medmenham/ Hambledon : here
List of gardeners at the principle houses and estates around Marlow: here
Other posts related to gardeners, allotments etc are within the index here: here
To find every mention of an individual on the blog use the A-Z person index in the drop down menu.
Sources:
Census 1851, 1881,1891 from the transcripts from original by Jane Pullinger.
Gardening World Magazine, 31 May 1895.
Weekly Register and Catholic Standard, 30 November 1861.
The World (journal) February 1903.
South Bucks Standard May 31st 1895, British Library, accessed via the BNA.
Reading Mercury 20 July 1867, 13 Feb 1903. As above.
"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DJ5-3Z1 : 13 December 2014), Edward Croker, 1861; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1861, quarter 4, vol. 3A, p. 647, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
Parishes: Medmenham', in A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 3, ed. William Page (London, 1925), pp. 84-89. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol3/pp84-89 [accessed 7 February 2022].