Henry Oatley Woodman, Renowned Victorian Gardener
Research Jim North; Photographs Jim North and Tony Beesley (1934-2011), June 2025
Research Jim North; Photographs Jim North and Tony Beesley (1934-2011), June 2025
My grandfather Henry Oatley Woodman at Spa Road, Melksham
Victorian society in Britain was altering greatly by the time of Queen Victoria’s death in 1901. Local authority based on landholdings was being diminished by new democratic governance. Rigid adherence to middle class codes of public morality (exemplified by the ritual of mourning and dress code) was giving way to a new liberation which flourished in the Edwardian era. These changes presented a challenge to the new aspiring families of the twentieth century: how to visibly demonstrate status. One way was through developing an elaborate garden to show, wealth, culture and landholdings. Domestic gardeners such as my grandfather, were key to generating social significance.
William LittleJohn Philip was a mechanical engineer who had grown up in Glasgow and moved to Melksham where he ran a hydraulic engineering company called Spencer & Co. The business specialised in elevators and conveyors for moving grain, coal and cement. At a time when mechanisation was developing rapidly, the company and William became very wealthy. In 1902 William invested his private funds into acquiring Rudloe Park Towers, Box Hill (now called the Rudloe Arms). He looked around for an accomplished gardener/ landscape designer and appointed my grandfather Henry Oatley Woodman, brother of one of his Melksham employees.
The house had been built by the Pictor family to have magnificent views at the head of the Box Valley but prior to 1902 had been rented out to various organisations, including an asylum for Habitual Drunkards and a school called the Rudloe Church of England College. We might imagine that one of the first jobs was to nurture unusual seeds, including the majestic Giant Redwoods which still adorn the grounds of the estate. This was followed by beds of barberry shrubs with their evergreen leaves, hanging orange flowers and ornamental red fruits. The plants were very exotic and had been discovered by Charles Darwin in South America in 1835. They were renowned for medical use as a remedy for digestive disorders.
William LittleJohn Philip was a mechanical engineer who had grown up in Glasgow and moved to Melksham where he ran a hydraulic engineering company called Spencer & Co. The business specialised in elevators and conveyors for moving grain, coal and cement. At a time when mechanisation was developing rapidly, the company and William became very wealthy. In 1902 William invested his private funds into acquiring Rudloe Park Towers, Box Hill (now called the Rudloe Arms). He looked around for an accomplished gardener/ landscape designer and appointed my grandfather Henry Oatley Woodman, brother of one of his Melksham employees.
The house had been built by the Pictor family to have magnificent views at the head of the Box Valley but prior to 1902 had been rented out to various organisations, including an asylum for Habitual Drunkards and a school called the Rudloe Church of England College. We might imagine that one of the first jobs was to nurture unusual seeds, including the majestic Giant Redwoods which still adorn the grounds of the estate. This was followed by beds of barberry shrubs with their evergreen leaves, hanging orange flowers and ornamental red fruits. The plants were very exotic and had been discovered by Charles Darwin in South America in 1835. They were renowned for medical use as a remedy for digestive disorders.
Prize Winning Work
Henry and his employer were keen to show off the results of their labours by entering local and regional garden shows. They won various horticultural prizes for their produce, including tuberous begonias.[1] In 1909 the gardens at Sherbrooke were described as: plantations in which there was a shrubbery known as barberry. They were planted some years ago and had reached considerable perfection. They were a source of great beauty during winter months and early spring.[2]
In the 1910 harvest festival held at the Adult School, Box Hill, he scooped up numerous prizes, including first prize in groups of varied vegetables, varied types of potatoes, and numerous other potato classes. There was regular competition between Henry and Walter Reuben Oatley from Barberry Cottage and in 1909 they shared all the awards for potato growing between them. It wasn’t only Henry who competed because his wife Mary entered the Chippenham Show in 1907 and won a prize for culinary apples.
My mother passed onto me several good quality silver spoons which I believe were prizes from local flower shows. I have passed these on to my grandchildren now.
Henry and his employer were keen to show off the results of their labours by entering local and regional garden shows. They won various horticultural prizes for their produce, including tuberous begonias.[1] In 1909 the gardens at Sherbrooke were described as: plantations in which there was a shrubbery known as barberry. They were planted some years ago and had reached considerable perfection. They were a source of great beauty during winter months and early spring.[2]
In the 1910 harvest festival held at the Adult School, Box Hill, he scooped up numerous prizes, including first prize in groups of varied vegetables, varied types of potatoes, and numerous other potato classes. There was regular competition between Henry and Walter Reuben Oatley from Barberry Cottage and in 1909 they shared all the awards for potato growing between them. It wasn’t only Henry who competed because his wife Mary entered the Chippenham Show in 1907 and won a prize for culinary apples.
My mother passed onto me several good quality silver spoons which I believe were prizes from local flower shows. I have passed these on to my grandchildren now.
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After World War I After the Great War Henry returned to Melksham to live and work. The age of the great estates had passed and, with it, secure employment as a domestic gardener. In 1921 he was employed by T A Kelson, corn and seed merchants. Henry died at 16 Spa Road, Melksham aged 75 in 1948. His obituary stressed his horticultural interest: former gardener, well known at flower shows in Melksham and the surrounding towns. The Woodmans of Box were all gentle folk, living off a gardener’s wages and garden produce. When I was young my siblings and I stayed at Melksham during our summer holidays with our aunty Margaret to give our mum a break. We would visit my granddad Henry Oatley Woodman at 16 Spa Road, Melksham on his Boxing Day birthday every year. Then we would go to see other family members in Melksham Forest. At Spa Road, granddad would show me around his greenhouse. I remember going there once when his prize chrysanthemums were ready to show. They were magnificent. I can still remember the acidic smell. Unfortunately, he died in 1948 when I was only six. Right: Henry Oatley Woodman enjoying his retirement |
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Gardening has changed over the years. By the time of the Second World War gardening was an occupation for individual families rather than a form of employment. In wartime, it was a necessity to provide fresh fruit and vegetables and often chickens and eggs in many houses. After the war, people turned to flowers as a leisure relaxation. My ancestors knew all of these characteristics.
Henry and Mary Jane in his garden at Spa Road, Melksham
References
[1] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 12 August 1909
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 16 January 1909
[1] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 12 August 1909
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 16 January 1909