Stories
- Article
Building a dream in the garden suburbs
In the late 19th century a ‘garden suburb’ promised a retreat from London’s dirt and crowds. See how this new concept was developed to appeal to the health concerns of the literary classes.
- Article
Plant portraits
The beautiful and mysterious illustrations in medieval herbals convey a wealth of knowledge about the plants they portray.
- Book extract
Ayurveda: Knowledge for long life
The story of medicine in India is rich and complex. Aarathi Prasad investigates how it came to be this way.
- Book extract
What the wind can bring
In this extract from ‘This Book is a Plant’, Amanda Thomson shares a newfound fascination with flowers, and reveals why our relationship with plants can also be complicated.
Catalogue
- Archives and manuscripts
- Online
Sketches of the Retreat buildings and grounds by H.G. Hampton
Date: 1925Reference: RET/2/1/22/5Part of: The Retreat Archive- Pictures
St John's College, Cambridge: New Court from the backs. Line engraving by J. Le Keux, 1840, after F. Mackenzie.
Mackenzie, Frederick, 1787 or 1788-1854.Date: 1 October 1840Reference: 16122i- Pictures
- Online
The North London Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest: elevation view of the garden facade with balconies indicated, people walking among trees at ground level. Process print by Sprague & Co., ca.1879, after A. Howard.
Howard, A., active 1879.Reference: 21689i- Pictures
- Online
Lansdowne college and surrounding grounds, Bath. Wood engraving by W.E. Hodgkin, 1858, after J. Wilson.
Hodgkin, W. E., active 1853-1879.Date: 1858Reference: 15505i- Pictures
The County Lunatic Asylum, Brentwood, Essex: bird's eye view. Wood engraving by W.E. Hodgkin, 1857, after H.E. Kendall.
Hodgkin, W. E., active 1853-1879.Date: 16 May 1857Reference: 15653i