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History
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The Gardens were designed in 1834 by Robert Marnock, a leading horticulturalist and landscape designer of his day. Marnock was known for the ‘Gardenesque’ style of landscape design, which evolved from Humphrey Repton’s Picturesque style and involves individual plant specimens being shown off to their best advantage in curving beds. Many of the design features which distinguish this style, such as winding paths, island beds and tree-planted mounds, can still be seen in the Gardens today.
Marnock became the first curator of the Gardens for an annual salary of £100. His work in Sheffield also includes the extension of Weston Park, High Hazels Park and the grounds of what is now the Kenwood Hotel in Nether Edge.
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Although designed by Marnock, The Gardens were established by a group of local residents who were concerned about the lack of public open space in Sheffield. They formed the Sheffield Botanical and Horticultural Society and purchased the land with £7,500 raised through shares.
Over the years the fortunes of the Gardens waxed and waned. The Sheffield Town Trust became the owners in 1898, when entry to the Gardens became free. They managed the Gardens until 1951, when Sheffield Council took over for a peppercorn rent.
Because so much of the much of the original design of the Gardens is preserved, and because of the concentration of historical listed buildings, the Gardens are listed by English Heritage as a Grade II site of special historic and architectural interest.
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