The Essex
Gardens Trust has a very active and enthusiastic archive and site research
group. Over the last few years the group has undertaken major surveys of
historic designed landscapes in three districts of
Once the idea of such a project was born it soon started to gain momentum and
the group also took the opportunity to embark on research on themes which had
attracted our attention during our other research, but we had not previously
had time to follow up. For example, 17th century manor house gardens, and the
use of postcards in garden research. We decided to devote a year to the project
and that each member of the group should work on a specific article which they
would propose, but which had to come within our general theme.
Although familiar with many of the skills of archive research the remit expanded the group’s skills considerably, as we used a different range of materials than those we might use for surviving sites, and also included work on the history of people associated with the sites. As the final articles came together it also became apparent that many of the team were unfamiliar with producing work for publication, so skills of editing, referencing, chasing copyrights, etc. were also learnt. We were determined from the outset that the publication should not only make our research available to a wider public, but would also act as promotion for the work of the Essex Gardens Trust and so we wanted it to look as professional as possible. A decision was therefore made to have a single editor, and also to pay for the services of a professional designer to put together the cover, deal with the formatting, and check the quality of reproductions, etc. and this did make a huge difference to the final appearance.
Having started
our research in October of 2004, the final publication came out just over a
year later. In that year we had really improved our research techniques, had
come together as a ‘team’, and had produced exciting and valuable research. The
Essex Gardens Trust Committee of Management, who had made the finances
available for the editing and printing were delighted with the final product.
We had 320 copies printed and have (only a year later) only about 30 left,
having recouped our outlay. The publication has, as intended, made many more of
the public aware of the work we are carrying out, including getting
considerable publicity in local newspapers. Although many of the members of the
research team were initially terrified at the thought of producing work for
publication they were so thrilled with the final result that we are now working
on our next publication. 'Rooted
in Essex: A gazetteer of (historic) designers, nurserymen, artists, plantsmen
who have lived and worked in
Now we’ve started there’s no stopping us!
Twigs Way
Paper Landscapes: Archive Based Studies on Historic Gardens and Landscapes in Essex (2005), edited by Twigs Way for the Essex Gardens Trust is available for £6.50 (plus £1 postage & packing) from Dr Michael Leach, 2 Landview Gardens, Ongar, Essex CM5 8LZ.