Ethel Mary Webb, daughter of wealthy landowner William Frederick Webb, was born at Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire, in 1862. She was reputedly one of the best amateur gardeners in England at the end of the 19th century.
In 1892 she visited Yokohama in Japan with her father William and her sister Geraldine, as part of a world tour. The visit fired Ethel’s interest in Japanese art and gardens and inspired her to create a Japanese garden at Newstead Abbey. This talk follows the achievements of one Victorian lady at a time when tackling even the toughest practical jobs was becoming an acceptable activity for upper class women. This ticket is for this individual session and costs £5 – register HERE through Eventbrite. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk. A link to the recorded session (available for 1 week) will be sent shortly afterwards.
Graham Hardman is Honorary Vice-President, Japanese Garden Society. He has been a freelance garden designer for over 20 years, with a special interest in Japanese gardens. He has co-designed and managed construction of several Japanese gardens in public spaces and has been awarded a gold and two silver medals for show gardens at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. In 2015 the Japanese Government awarded Graham the ‘Order of the Rising Sun with Gold Rays and Rosette’ for services in furthering awareness of Japanese culture in the UK through Japanese gardens.
Philip Jones is a garden historian, former librarian and lecturer in local and family history. He is Midland regional secretary of The Japanese Garden Society and currently researching the Victorian and Edwardian gardens at Newstead Abbey. His publications include Great Nottinghamshire Gardens (Nottinghamshire County Council, 2002) and Lost Houses of Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire County Council, 2006).
