Design History of the Gardens

Design History of the Gardens. . It's beautiful, riverside location and romantic ruins made the 10 acres of land around the Yorkshire Museum perfect for a botanical garden., Originally it was a pleasure garden for members of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, who appointed Sir John Murray Naysmith to draw up designs in a gardenesque style during the 1840's. This was a response to the picturesque style of painting and gardening, popular in the nineteenth century. Through vistas and views the gardens highlighted the individual beauty of its trees, plants and monuments., Over the years the garden has been home to many exotic plant species, including tea, coffee, ginger, orchids and rainforest air plants which were housed in a conservatory, "Order beds' were laid out for the study of specific plant species., A menagerie of animals and birds also had a home in the gardens. This included a troublesome bear, who eventually caused too much mischief and was sent to London Zoo by stagecoach!