Category Archives: Historical Hedges
Britishness and the Hedge (and Burgess Hill)
I’m in Burgess Hill, the town where I grew up. The last of my family moved away over twenty years ago and I have lost touch with most people I knew here. It is a dormitory town, an hour from … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, Rural Britain, The Hedge Philosopher
Six Weeks to Go
It’s been a long and winding road, but the book (Hedge Britannia) will finally be published on 10th May. It is being printed right now, so I am looking forward to seeing copies.
Filed under Historical Hedges, Literary Hedges
Hatfield’s Knot Garden and Mazes
This is Hatfield’s knot garden, with its lovely low maze and topiaries. The site of the garden originally lay under a wing of the house which was devastated by a fire in the early 19th century. The brick paths were … Continue reading
Filed under Garden History, Hedge Mazes, Historical Hedges, Notable Hedges
The “hedge-publisher” and the hedge professor
Following my various posts on the use of “hedge-” as a derogatory prefix meaning “humble” or “of low origins” I was interested to find this usage buried in a 1922 book called A Dictionary Of The Printers And Booksellers Who … Continue reading
Filed under Everyday Hedges, Historical Hedges
The Elephant Hedge at Rockingham Castle
One of the most spectacular and weird hedges I have ever had the pleasure of encountering is the Elephant Hedge at Rockingham Castle. Perched on a natural escarpment above the Welland Valley, Rockingham was built on the instructions of William … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, Notable Hedges
The etymology of “hedgehog” (and how to cook one).
I’ve previously mentioned the use of “hedge-” as a derogatory prefix, as for instance in the adjective “hedge-born” which means “of low birth” or “born under a hedge”. In past centuries, poor people might seek medical help from a “hedge-doctor”, … Continue reading
Filed under Everyday Hedges, Gardening Thoughts, Historical Hedges
Clipsham topiary
This remarkable avenue of 150 idiosyncratic yew topiaries can be seen on the estate of Clipsham Hall in Rutland. It was created from 1870 by Amos Alexander, the forester on the estate who lived in the gate lodge and today … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, Topiary
The Meikleour Hedge
For anyone who wants a barrier between themselves and their neighbours, the ultimate aspirational hedge must the one at Meikleour in Scotland. Running alongside the A93 between Perth and Blairgowrie, this is an extraordinary solid wall of beech trees. The … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, Notable Hedges
The Hundred Acre Wood
I have brought my daughter for a day out in Ashdown Forest in the hope of getting some sense of what the original wildwood looked like. The first hedges were, of course, created as assart hedges, the remnants of ancient … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, Rural Britain, Trees, Woodland
The Hedgerows of Flore and One O’Clock Farm
One late summer day in Northamptonshire, I’ve stopped for tea at the wonderfully named Bliss Lane Nursery. In the village of Flore, past Meadow Farm, this is a small haven, with greenhouses full of plants, and a small farm area … Continue reading
Filed under Historical Hedges, Rural Britain
