<< Back to A-Z list

Royal Botanical and Horticultural Society of Manchester and the Northern Counties Archive

Date range: 1827-2014

Medium: Archive

The Royal Botanical and Horticultural Society of Manchester and the Northern Counties was founded in 1827 to lay out gardens for the recreation of the citizens of Manchester and to further the scientific disciplines of botany and horticulture.

In the 19th century the Society managed extensive gardens at Old Trafford, but their popularity declined as the middle classes moved out of the city, and the site was disposed of in 1907.

In the 20th century, the Society focused on two main activities: the running of flower shows, and the support of other organizations – societies, charities and educational institutions – associated with botany and horticulture. The Society was wound up at the end of 2014.

The archive includes title deeds, administrative records such as minute books, financial records and rule books, annual reports and accounts, and photographs.

As well as illuminating the Society’s own history, the archive has wider significance for studies of the social history of Manchester and the north-west region, particularly in the 19th century, and for research into garden history and the development of horticulture and botany as scientific and practical pursuits.

Further information:

Catalogue for the bulk of the archive (1827-1998) available online via ELGAR.

The material dating from 1998 to 2014 is uncatalogued.

Location:


<< Back to A-Z list