Morrab Gardens
Encyclopedia
Morrab Gardens are a municipal garden covering three acres (12,000 m²) to the south of Penzance
town centre, Cornwall
, UK. It is known for its Mediterranean and sub-tropical plants.
Morrab House with its walled garden was built in 1841 by brewer Samuel Pidwell. The house is described as "...a large stucco villa in the Georgian manner with columned porch". Shortly after the Pidwell family moved to Portugal and the property was purchased by Charles Campbell Ross
banker and Member of Parliament for the St Ives Constituency
. In 1889 the property was bought by the Corporation of Penzance and Reginald Upcher, a landscape gardener from London, was commissioned to develop the grassy fields that sloped down to the sea into a municipal park. In the same year the Penzance Library
secured a lease as tenants and moved to Morrab House from the municipal buildings. and is now known as the Morrab Library. The garden is now in the ownership of Cornwall Council and feature some Grade II Listed Buildings including a Victorian bandstand, fountain and Boer
war memorial.
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
town centre, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK. It is known for its Mediterranean and sub-tropical plants.
Morrab House with its walled garden was built in 1841 by brewer Samuel Pidwell. The house is described as "...a large stucco villa in the Georgian manner with columned porch". Shortly after the Pidwell family moved to Portugal and the property was purchased by Charles Campbell Ross
Charles Campbell Ross
Charles Campbell Ross was a British politician and banker based in Penzance, Cornwall. Educated at Brighton College, he was leading member of the Penzance Borough Council in the 1880s serving as mayor 5 times in 1877, 1878, 1879, 1881 and 1883...
banker and Member of Parliament for the St Ives Constituency
St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)
St. Ives is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
. In 1889 the property was bought by the Corporation of Penzance and Reginald Upcher, a landscape gardener from London, was commissioned to develop the grassy fields that sloped down to the sea into a municipal park. In the same year the Penzance Library
Morrab Library
The Morrab Library is an independent library based in Penzance in Cornwall in the UK.The library situated in Morrab House in Morrab Gardens, and was founded in 1818. Morrab is financed through membership subscriptions and is notable for its large celtic studies collection and local archives...
secured a lease as tenants and moved to Morrab House from the municipal buildings. and is now known as the Morrab Library. The garden is now in the ownership of Cornwall Council and feature some Grade II Listed Buildings including a Victorian bandstand, fountain and Boer
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
war memorial.