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Planting out the herb garden |
In 1970, the Old Medicine House was moved to Blackden. The following spring new species of plants appeared in the garden; wildflowers and herbs. Disturbed from cracks in the beams, seeds had fallen on the ground, sprouted and established themselves around the house. These were nurtured and the concept of establishing a Tudor herb garden also grew. |
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History
Internal evidence suggests that the Old Medicine House was built in the sixteenth century for an apothecary. By the late 20th century no traces of its original status remained, nor were there any remains of a herb garden around it, where it stood at Wrinehill, Staffordshire
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Discussing the uses of herbs in Tudor medicine |
Developing the garden
The lack of obvious remains of a herb garden at apothecary's house on its original site, gave us the freedom to create our own design.
So, in 2008, we organised a course, where we examined the herb plants that would have been grown in the sixteenth century, and drew up designs and planting schemes for the beds. The participants at that first herb course made the inspired decision to echo the quatrefoil shape that occurs on either side of the windows of the Old Medicine House, in the layout of the beds.
On another course, in the following year the beds were planted. We shall continue to develop the herb garden and run courses on the history and uses of herbs.
The herbs grown at Blackden
All the herbs that appeared with The Old Medicine House were moved into the beds, and others were brought in. Some will thrive in our soil, but others may not.
Those that appeared around the house included Borage, Chamomile, Feverfew, Opium Poppy and Teasel. They have now spread to other parts of the garden.
The Herb Garden | |||
| The herb garden is part of the living archive of the Blackden Trust. As it develops it will supply the herb courses run by the Trust. | |||
Pictures in the gallery below are shown as 'thumbnails'. Clicking on a picture will display a larger version on a new page. Some pictures are also available as full size images and these are indicated by a small magnifying glass in the top left corner. | |||
| The development of the herb garden |  |  |  |  |
| March 2009 - before starting | April 2009 - The Medicine House before starting | Beginning to clear the area | Borders cleared |  |  |  |  |
| April 2009 - Marking out the beds | Marking out the northern bed | Marking out the southern bed | Beds ready for planting |  |  |  |
| May 2009 - planting out | The northern bed | The southern bed |  |  |  |
| June 2009 - the beds develop | The southern bed | The northern bed |  |  |  |
| July 2009 - herbs start to flower | The southern bed | The northern bed |  |  |  |
| August 2009 - in full flower | The southern bed | The northern bed |  |  |  |
| September 2009 - herbs in full flower | The southern bed | The northern bed |  |  |  |
| October 2009 - final flowering | The southern bed | The northern bed |  |  |  |
| November 2009 - the foliage falls | The southern bed | The northern bed |  |
| December 2009 - snowed in | |||
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© The Blackden Trust 2008-2010 Updated: 01/03/2010 |
The Blackden Trust is a registered charity no. 1115818 |