A Pretty Kettle of FishWith apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan’s

Iolanthe, (Strephon’s a Member of Parliament!)

Sheffield

Botanical

Gardens

Tour

This is a trace of the map outline of these gardens that you can see on notice boards and leaflets there. It certainly looks a bit fishy. It arose in piecemeal fashion over the years but hints at the presence of a Higher Guiding Hand forming it into a biblical sign of Jonah. It is an observation that I make use of in this presentation and elsewhere.

Eight minutes walk from my house

You can get official information about these gardens at www.sbg.org.uk

History: most of the land (formerly Tom Field Farm) was bought from the Wilson family

Wilsons (Sharrow) snuff mill

For about 65 years the lowest altitude gate was next to South Lodge (still

standing)

Banner Cross Hall (left), nearly 2 km south-west of here is a splendid example surviving of the sorts of grand country mansions that were scattered over this neighbourhood at the time of the gardens opening. In1898 ownership of the gardens was transferred to the Sheffield Town Trust, who added the dolphin's tail flukes and the new Thompson Road gate (below, left).

In 1951 Sheffield Corporation took over. The gardens

have since then been overshadowed by

political wranglings of the Town Hall.

Going to and fro I often pass the entrance to Endcliffe park; a large area for boisterous play which helps to preserve the peace and quiet of the gardens.

Paxton pavilions are the most notable buildings in the gardens. They were restored

to their original form ten years ago.

The fountain also was restored but in my opinion the original gardens of 1836 were too much cluttered with

kitsch and permission to restore many more things was thankfully refused.

Robert Marnock garden was named after the first curator.

Specimen plants around the gardens

Autumn colours

One’s own garden can fill in for favourite plants not grown here.

An old photo my dad took of some of my lilies at our family home