A Guide to Medieval Gardens: Gardens in the Age of Chivalry

by Michael Brown

Overview

Medieval gardens usually rate very few pages in the garden history books. The general perception is still of small gardens in the corner of a castle. Recent research has shown that the gardens were larger than we previously believed. This book contains information and pictures that have not been generally available before, including the theory and practice of medieval horticulture. Many features of later gardens were already a part of medieval gardens. The number of plants was limited, but was still no less than many modern gardeners use in their own gardens today. Yet medieval gardens were imbued with meaning. Whether secular or religious, the additional dimension of symbolism, gave a greater depth to medieval gardens, which is lacking in most modern ones.

This book will be of interest to those who know little about medieval gardens and to those with more knowledge. It contains some of the vast amount of research that the author carried out to create the medieval gardens at the Prebendal Manor, Nassington, Northamptonshire. The author has tried to use previously unused sources and included his own practical experience of medieval gardening methods that he carried out to maintain the gardens. Some worked, others certainly didn’t.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526794550
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Michael Brown is Professor of Scottish history at the University of St Andrews. His main research interests centre on the political society of Scotland c.1250 - c.1500 and on the relationships between the various communities of the British Isles during the same period. He has published studies of the practice and ideology of royal and aristocratic lordship in Scotland.

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Chapter 1 Evidence of Medieval Gardens 9

Chapter 2 Influences of European Medieval Gardens 20

Chapter 3 Monastic and Sacred Gardens 22

Chapter 4 Secular Gardens 39

Chapter 5 Medieval Garden Features 43

Chapter 6 Water in the Garden 68

Chapter 7 Parks and Pleasure Parks 78

Chapter 8 The Plants of the Medieval Garden 86

Chapter 9 The Medieval Gardener 106

Chapter 10 The Gardener's Tools and Equipment 109

Chapter 11 Cultivation Techniques 123

Chapter 12 The Medieval Gardening Year 149

Chapter 13 Making your own Medieval Garden 158

Conclusion 160

Acknowledgements 162

Bibliography 163

Medieval Gardens to visit 165

Editorial Reviews

This very special history contains some of the vast amount of research that Professor Brown carried out to create the medieval gardens…A simply fascinating read and a singularly important.

Midwest Book Review