News from the gardening world

Rock garden dynasty is celebrated in historic restoration

T he factory site of the world’s greatest exponent of rock garden construction has opened to the public. For more than 100 years, trend-setting James Pulham and Son built some of the largest and most impressive synthetic rock structures and landscapes in Victorian and Edwardian Britain.

Instead of using natural stone they developed ‘Pulhamite’, a revolutionary concrete-like material that was moulded to represent weather-worn rock.

The company built around 170 monumental and intricate landscapes, including grottos, follies and cascades around the UK and western Europe.

Clients included Buckingham Palace, Sandringham, Crystal Palace Park, the RHS rock garden at Wisley and the Chelsea Flower Show. Styles included Japanese, Italian and Dutch design, as well as mountainscapes. Many Pulham landscapes still exist and have since been restored. Opened in 1830, the company

closed down in 1939 as tastes changed and money for such expensive projects declined. Now, thanks to a £55,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the remaining Grade II-listed features on the factory site in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, have undergone a restoration, which includes a brick kiln set in a new public garden.

Supporting the garden launch is an exhibition at Lowewood Museum, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, of the life and work of the Pulham family firm, including video tours of key Pulham projects and a display of artefacts.

The exhibition is open until April 29. Admission is free. Tel: 01992 445596 or visit www.broxbourne.gov.uk/lowewoodmuseum.