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Postponed: Received from Kensington: Gilbert White’s plants from London in 1756

Postponed: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic this event has been postponed. A new date will be released once we have a better understanding of the situation.

On the 12th of May 1756, Gilbert White noted the safe arrival in Selborne of a delivery of plants from one Williamson, a London nurseryman based in Kensington.

These few lines from the Garden Kalendar give a tantalizing glimpse of Gilbert White the gardener, but they also raise a number of questions.

Who was Williamson?

Is there any significance to the range of plants ordered from this particular nurseryman?

How did Williamson’s establishment fit into the fast developing world of London nurseries in the mid 18th Century?

The talk will attempt to answer these questions and provide a context for Gilbert White and his plants in the horticultural world of the 1750s.

    Gilbert White’s Field Studies Centre

    Gilbert White’s Field Studies Centre is the Education Department of Gilbert White’s House and The Oates Collection. Our mission is to inspire journeys of discovery in the natural world for all ages and abilities and throughout the seasons.

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