The decades before the First World War are often referred to as the Golden Afternoon of gardening. They were also the Golden Afternoon of garden painting. Although they dropped out of favour for most of the 20th century there has been a revival of interest in the last 30 years or so and we’re sure you’ll see why. We shall echo Roy Strong who saw himself looking at their work and “sauntering past immemorial yew hedges to linger over a herbaceous border before ascending ancient stone steps leading through a weathered iron gate to who knows where.”

But not all gardens are that grand. This was the age of the cottage garden too, and of early garden and plant photography, while all the time, in the distance, is the cenotaph.

Week 4 March 23rd: The Essenhigh Corkes - David

Art has a commercial side and it’s easy to overlook those humbler forms that don’t involve gallery walls. Amongst those who led the way were Charles and Henry Essenhigh Corke. Don’t be put off by the strange name. They were a talented father and son team who helped put high quality garden art onto picture postcards, and into guidebooks. Their work was so good it is still used a reference point in garden conservation today. Henry was also a pioneer of garden and plant photography, producing images of the highest quality that any modern garden photographer would be proud to have taken.

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After a career as a head teacher in Inner London David Marsh took very early retirement (the best thing he ever did) and returned to education on his own account and did an MA then a PhD in garden history. Now he lectures on. gardens history anywhere that will listen to him, and helps organise the Garden History seminar at London University’s Institute of Historical Research. He is co-chair of the Education and Events Committee of the Gardens Trust, for who he organises courses and writes a weekly blog which you can find here.

This ticket is for this individual session and costs £5, and you may purchase tickets for other individual sessions via the links below, or you may purchase a ticket for the entire course of 5 sessions at a cost of £20 via the link here.

Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and a link to the recorded session (available for 1 week) will be sent shortly afterwards.

The Old English Garden: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

The Cottage Garden: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

Gertrude Jekyll - artist and gardener: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

The Essenhigh Corkes: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.

Towards the Cenotaph: Part of a series of 5 online lectures, £5 each or all 5 for £20.