The Medieval Garden King Street

The Medieval Garden King Street. . Behind the Victorian shop fascia of 7 King Street lies the medieval manor house built for John de Mowbray. This small garden is a 'snapshot' of the sorts of herbs and features that would have been found in John's garden in the fourteenth century. It incorporates a living bower, flowers, herbs, fruit, nuts, hand-crafted trellising with grapevine, climbers and a chamomile/turf seat. Nosegays of fragrant flowers and herbs were carried to hide bad smells and as protection against the plague. This is a selection of some of the more than twenty-nine different plants grown here and their uses in medieval times. This garden has been designed, planted and is cared for by Melton in Bloom., Golden Hop , The hop was used for many medical problems but especially for headaches, when the syrup made from the juice and sugar was taken. A pillow stuffed with hops was used for a good night's sleep., Apothecary's Rose , The distilled water from rose petals was used to refresh the spirits and strengthen the heart. Rose petals were crystallized and made into jams and syrups and rose water was used as flavouring for jellies and sauces., Marjoram , Grown for its fragrance, it signified peace and happiness. It was valued also for preserving and for disinfecting., Rosemary , Symbolised remembrance, fidelity, constancy and loyalty. It was used for flavouring food, for herb pillows and in incense., Wild Thyme , A strewing herb and widely used in cooking. Sleeping on a pillow filled with thyme was said to keep away nightmares. It was also used to help with the consequences of drinking too., Lavender , Used for perfume and to fragrance linens also to flavour jellies. It had no other uses - for headaches and to calm the spirit and for potpourri, as an insecticide and also an antiseptic., Sage , A fragrant culinary herb and widely used in medicine it was reputed to possess the power of longevity. 'He that would live for aye, must eat sage in May'. When sage flourished in the garden, the owner's business would flourish., Self-heal , Known as Carpenter's Herb, Hook-heal or Sicklewort because the flower looks like the upper part of a sickle. Used to treat wounds and sore throats., Concretes , Described in herbals as 'a very precious herb, that is certain, and most fitting to be kept in a man's house, both in syrup, conserve, oil, ointment and plaister'., Salad burnet , 'A most precious herb, the continual use of it preserves the body in health and the spirit in vigour. It was used as a defence against infection., Lady's Mantle , Alchemilla (the little magical one) is thought to come from the Arabic for alchemy., The dew from the leaves was collected by medieval alchemists trying to turn base metals into gold. In the herb garden it was used in cosmetics, as a green dye and as a wound herb., Pot Marigolds , A Medieval emblem of enduring love the flowers were used to relieve wasp and bee stings. They were also used to treat wounds. In the Great War marigold was used in large quantities. Gertrude Jekyll, the famous English garden designer was a major supplier to the Royal Army Medical Corps.