The Jekyll Memorial, Busbridge, Surrey, England, commemorates the gardener Gertrude Jekyll and members of her family. Designed by Jekyll's friend and collaborator, Edwin Lutyens and constructed in 1932, it is a Grade II listed structure.
| Jekyll Memorial | |
|---|---|
 Memorials to the Jekylls, left, and Francis McLaren, right | |
| Type | Memorial |
| Location | Busbridge, |
| Coordinates | 51°10′37″N 0°36′05″W / 51.1769°N 0.6013°W |
| Area | Surrey |
| Built | C.1932 |
| Architect | Edwin Lutyens |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Jekyll Memorial |
| Designated | 1 February 1991 |
| Reference no. | 1044532 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | McLaren Headboard |
| Designated | 1 February 1991 |
| Reference no. | 1188875 |
  Location of Jekyll Memorial in Surrey | |
History and architecture
editGertrude Jekyll (1843–1932) was a gardener whose work had considerable influence on subsequent garden design theory and practice.[1][2] A close friend of Edwin Lutyens, she collaborated with him on designs for over 100 gardens.[3] In 1896, Lutyens designed Jekyll's house, Munstead Wood, at Munstead Heath near Busbridge.[4] The death of "Aunt Bumps", as Lutyens called Jekyll, in December 1932, shortly after that of her brother Herbert in September the same year, led Lutyens to design a family memorial. Tributes to Dame Agnes, Herbert's widow, who died in 1937,[a] and to Francis, their only son who died in 1965, were subsequently added.[5]
The memorial is located at the south-east corner of the Church of St John the Baptist in Busbridge. It comprises three stone tomb slabs, placed in front of a stone exedra which is topped by a semi-circular urn. Pevsner describes the whole as "an intricate composition, oddly like Soane translated into the blunt obtuse forms of the 1930s".[6] The original inscription read 'In remembrance of Herbert and Gertrude Jekyll long time dwellers in their homes in Munstead who passed to their rest in the Autumn of 1932. / Their joy was in the work of their hands: their memorial is the beauty which lives after them'. This was later updated to include reference to Herbert's widow; 'Also of Agnes Jekyll whose spirit ever dwelt in loving kindness'. The memorial is a Grade II listed structure.[5]
Memorial to Francis McLaren
editTo the right of the Jekyll Memorial stands a carved wooden headboard commemorating Francis McLaren (1886–1917). McLaren had married Barbara Jekyll, daughter of Sir Herbert and Lady Jekyll, and was killed in a flying accident in 1917.[7] The headboard was also designed by Lutyens and consists of five, pegged, panels, showing the arms of the Royal Flying Corps and carrying details of McLaren's career as a member of parliament and as a second lieutenant in the RFC. It has its own Grade II listing.[8]
Footnotes
edit- ^ The Historic England listing for the memorial incorrectly records her death as occurring in 1860.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932) – Great British Gardens". www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk.
- ^ Sanctuary, Jim. "Gertrude Jekyll". leighgardening.org.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ Amery, Richardson & Stamp 1981, p. 111.
- ^ Hussey 1989, p. 25.
- ^ a b c Historic England. "Jekyll Memorial (1044532)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ Pevsner, Nairn & Cherry 1987, p. 125.
- ^ "Casualty Details: McLaren, The Hon. Francis Walter S." Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "McLaren Headboard (1188875)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
Sources
edit- Amery, Colin; Richardson, Margaret; Stamp, Gavin (1981). Lutyens: The Work of the English Architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. ISBN 9780728703032.
- Hussey, Christopher (1989) [1950]. The Life of Sir Edwin Lutyens. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors Club. ISBN 978-0-907462-59-0.
- Pevsner, Nikolaus; Nairn, Ian; Cherry, Bridget (1987). Surrey. The Buildings Of England. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-071021-3. OCLC 256866115.