IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): gb803awo
Held at: Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Libraries
Title: WOODWARD, Arthur (1917-2008)
Date(s): 1901-2008
Level of description: collection
Extent: 5 A boxes
Name of creator(s): Woodward | Arthur | 1917-2008 | horticulturalist
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Arthur Woodward (17 Mar 1917-5 Feb 2008) was born in Wigan, Lancashire, and was educated at Hindley Green Council School. At the age of 15 he began his career as an apprentice at Leyland Park, Hindley, maintaining the tennis courts and doing horticultural work when time permitted.
In 1935 Woodward was appointed gardener, at a level known as ‘improver’, on a private estate, Leggatt’s Park in Potters Bar, where he spent 18 months, and where in due course he was put in charge of the fruit and plant houses. In 1937 he moved to Cambridge University Botanic Garden, employed as student gardener in the glasshouses and propagating department. He left two years later as a trained gardener, to gain more experience in parks work and joined the Council Parks Department at Dudley, Worcestershire. His time at Dudley was interrupted by the war, which he spent in the Royal Air Force, during which time he continued to practice horticulture.
After demobilisation Woodward spent a year as a student gardener at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, before being appointed ‘technical assistant’ at Beckenham Parks Department, where he had a wide range of administrative responsibilities. Over time he gained a number of qualifications: the RHS junior and senior certificates in general horticulture, the RHS Teachers preliminary and advanced qualifications in school and cottage gardening, RHS National Diploma in Horticulture qualifications in general horticulture, and the Diploma of the Institute of Park Administration.
In 1947 he was appointed Deputy Parks Superintendent at the Borough of Richmond. In 1956, following the retirement of George Humphreys, Woodward was appointed Parks and Allotments Superintendent, a post he held until his retirement in 1982. During his time at Richmond he developed the Terrace Gardens, Richmond, improved tree care practices, opened up the parks by removing gates and fences, and created 200 acres of natural parkland from gravel pits near the river. He also established a central nursery at Ham and a nine-hole golf course at Twickenham.
After retirement Woodward joined a local group of architects as Landscape Consultant, and was variously President of the University Botanic Gardens Association, Kew Guild, Richmond Rotary Club and the Barnes Horticultural and Allotments Association.
Woodward married Adah Major in Lancashire in 1942, and they had two sons.
Source: The archive of Arthur Woodward
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Arthur Woodward's papers comprise course notes and examination papers relating to his horticultural training, references and papers relating to job applications, and correspondence, papers and photographs relating to his work as Parks Superintendent.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Some sorting of material was carried out by the donor prior to the acquisition of the archive by the RHS. Papers were mostly kept in the order in which they were received; any rearrangement has been noted in the relevant description.
Conditions governing access:
Open. It is essential to check opening hours and make an appointment library.london@rhs.org.uk
Conditions governing reproduction:
Please contact the Lindley Library for conditions governing reproduction.
Physical characteristics:
Some material in the archive is fragile. Readers are asked to take care as they handle this archive.
Finding aids:
The Lindley Library descriptive catalogue, available on-line via the Archives Hub, and as a paper copy in the research room. An electronic copy can be emailed on request. library.london@rhs.org.uk
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Some selection of photographs was carried out by the archivist.
PUBLICATIONS
The following books and pamphlets belonging to Arthur Woodward were donated along with the archive. Titles marked with an asterisk were transferred to the Lindley Library Printed Collections. Those with no asterisk were duplicates or out of scope and returned to the donor.
Books:
Adam the gardener: a pictorial guide to each week’s work / by Cyril Cowell and Morley Adams. Sunday Express. [c.1960s]. 160 pages
Adam the gardener shows you how to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables. Sunday Express. [c.1965]. 160 pages
*A study of the growth of grass in ‘surface-stabilised’ soil / by Martin A.F. Sutton. Sutton and Sons Limited [c.1940s]. 22 pages
Better hedges / by Roy Hay. Roy Hay Publications. [1950?]. 19 pages
Concrete cricket pitches. Cement and Concrete Association. 1948. 5 pages
*Cricket ground maintenance / by H.C. (‘Bert’) Lock. Surrey Junior Cricket Committee. 1957. 43 pages
Forestry Commission leaflet No. 19: Elm disease. Forestry Commission. 1947. 7 pages
Forestry Commission leaflet No. 31: The grey squirrel. Forestry Commission. 1953. 15 pages
Forestry Commission leaflet No. 42: Woodpeckers in woodlands. Forestry Commission. 1958. 11 pages
Forestry Commission leaflet No. 44: Voles and field mice. Forestry Commission. 1958. 11 pages
Forestry Commission leaflet No. 45: The roe deer. Forestry Commission. 1960. 16 pages
Forestry practice. HMSO. 7th edition, 1958. 93 pages
*Gardens to visit. Gardeners’ Sunday Organisation. 1972. 64 pages
*Gardens to visit. Gardeners’ Sunday Organisation. 1985. 72 pages
Glossary for landscape work. Part 4. Plant description. British Standards Institution. 1966. 26 pages
Guide to Wisley Gardens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1948. 36 pages
Ham Common and the Dysarts. A brief and an indictment / by William H. Harland. 1894. 78 pages
Ham lands. A guide to nature conservation / by G.E. Davis and E. Lathan. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. [c.1989]. 24 pages
Herb gathering / by Barbara Keen and Jean Armstrong. Brome and Schimmer. [1941?]. 51 pages
History of Ham and Petersham (typescript). Various sources. [c.1940s]. 12 pages
Humphrey Gilbert-Carter: a memorial volume. University Botanic Garden Cambridge. 1975. 132 pages
If I had your garden / by Percy Thrower. Plant Protection Limited (subsidiary company of ICI). [c.1950s]. 30 pages
John Innes Leaflet No. 1: John Innes composts for pot plants. John Innes Horticultural Institution. 1940. 4 pages
John Innes Leaflet No. 2: Soil sterilisation for pot plants. John Innes Horticultural Institution. 1940. 4 pages
John Innes Leaflet No. 3: Soil steriliser. John Innes Horticultural Institution. 1940. 8 pages
John Innes Leaflet No. 4: The fertility rules in fruit planting. John Innes Horticultural Institution. 1940 8 pages
John Innes Leaflet No. 10: The John Innes glasshouses. John Innes Horticultural Institution. 1950. 12 pages
*Lawn and turf culture for gardens and grounds / by H.C. Lock. Surrey County Cricket Club. 1963. 56 pages
Lawn grasses. A guide to their identification and various uses / by F.J. Reed. [1954]. 27 pages
*Lawns and greens / by A.W. Darnell. William Wood and Son. 1935. 40 pages
Practical instructions for the planting of trees and shrubs (with special reference to roadside conditions). The Roads Beautifying Association. [c.1950s?]. 8 pages
Recommendations and classification for top soil. British Standards Institution. 1965. 11 pages
Recommendations for transplanting semi-mature trees. British Standards Institution. 1966. 12 pages
Report of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. 1952. 32 pages
Report of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. 1956. 48 pages
Rhododendrons at Sunningdale / by James Russell. Sunningdale Nurseries. 1960. 103 pages
Specification for nursery stock. Park 4. Forest trees. British Standards Institution. 1966. 12 pages
*Specification of playing facilities / by P.W. Smith. The National Playing Fields Association. [c.1960s]. 60 pages
Tree preservation orders. Advisory leaflet No. 1. The Arboricultural Association. 1965. 4 pages
Trees please / by Keith Wilson. The Blue Circle Group. 1977. 13 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 1: Twickenham Riverside. [c.1960s]. 6 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 2: Richmond Walk (A) Parkshot to Richmond Park. [c.1960s]. 8 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 3: Richmond Walk (B) The Hill Top to George Street. [c.1960s]. 8 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 4: Richmond to Kew. [c.1960s]. 7 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 5: A walk round Petersham. [c.1960s]. 8 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 6: Mortlake and East Sheen. [c.1960s]. 8 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 7: A walk around Barnes. [c.1960s]. 6 pages
Walking around Richmond upon Thames. No. 8: A walk from Hampton Court Bridge to Hampton Church. [c.1960s]. 6 pages
Western Europe: a selection illustrating the range of information available. Central Reference Library, Richmond. [c.1960s]. 23 pages
*Wisley, the first 100 years. [Royal Horticultural Society?]. [1978?]. 40 pages
Nursery catalogue:
*Cacti and Succulents. T.M Endean, Laindon, Essex. Undated
Periodicals:
Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society:
Vol LXXV, part 6, Jun 1950
Vol LXXVI, part 10
Vol LXXVIII, part 1, Jan 1953
Vol LXXX, part 11, Nov 1955
Vol LXXXII, part 12, Dec 1957
Vol LXXXIV part 1, Jan 1959
Vol LXXXV, part 12, Dec 1960
Vol LXXXVI, part 1, Jan 1961
Vol LXXXVII, parts 1 and 12, Jan-Dec 1962
Vol LXXXVIII, part 1, Jan 1963
Journal of the Kew Guild:
Vol V, numbers XLIV and XLVI-XLIVII, 1937-1940
Vol VI, numbers XLVIII, L-LII, 1941-1945
Vol VI, L-LII, 1943-1945
Vol VII, number LVII, 1952
Vol VIII, *number LXVII, 1962, *number LXXIII, *number LXXIV, *number LXXV, 1968-1970
Vol IX, number LXXVI-LXXXI, 1971-1976, number 82-85, 1977-1980
Vol 10, numbers 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 1981-1982, 1984-1988, 1990
Vol 11, number 96, 98, 99, 100, 1991, 1993-1995
Vol 12, number 101, 1996
Vol 13, number 102, 1997
Other periodicals:
Annual Report of the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens Syndicate, 1939-1941, 1953, 1954-1955, 1957-58, 1958-1959, 1959-60, 1960-1961, 1961-1962, *1967-1968, *1968-1969
Journal of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden Association, numbers 1-3, 1959-1963
Amateur Gardening, 23 Aug 1949
Gardeners Chronicle, Vol 140, number 24, 15 Dec 1956
Gardeners Chronicle, Vol 161 number 19, 10 May 1967
The Journal of The Sports Turf Research Institute, number 42, 1966
Modern forestry (no. 3). 1962
Modern forestry (no. 4). Chain saw issue. 1963-4
Journal articles and reprints
Some plants of Ham Common, Surrey 1941-1961 / by B. Welch. Reprinted from the London Naturalist. Undated
Petersham Common, Surrey / by B. Welch. Photocopy of article in the London Naturalist, No. 40. Undated
POSTCARDS
The following postcards belonging to Arthur Woodward were transferred to the Lindley Library postcard collection in Feb 2014:
‘Stormont Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings, Belfast’, polychrome, blank, undated
‘Stormont Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings, Belfast’, monochrome, blank, undated
‘City Hall and Garden of Remembrance, Belfast’, monochrome, blank, undated
‘The “Pot of Legawherry” from Tollymore Forest Park, Co Down, polychrome, blank, undated
‘Tollymore Forest Park, Co Down’, polychrome, blank, undated
‘Old Bridge, Tollymore Forest Park, Co Down, polychrome, pencil annotation on reverse, possibly from child, undated
‘The Winter Garden in aid of Friends of Cambridge Botanic Garden’, polychrome, blank, undated
‘Sandstone Rock Garden in aid of Friends of Cambridge Botanic Garden’, polychrome, blank, undated
‘Richmond Bridge by C.P. Shilton’, polychrome, blank, undated
‘The Thames at Richmond’, polychrome, written to Arthur Woodward from Jed Herbert, 1964[?]
‘The Carpet Gardens, Eastbourne’, polychrome, written to Mrs G. Woodward from Arthur and Len, date unclear
‘Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, no.110. The Sherman Hoyt Cactus House, presented, together with the scenic backgrounds and many of the plants, by Mrs Sherman Hoyt of Pasadena, California; erected 1931’, polychrome, blank, undated
‘Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, no.51. Succulent house. Contains plants peculiarly adapted to the arid regions of the earth. Inset, the flower of the Giant Cactus from California’, monochrome, blank, undated
‘Rock Gardens, Happy Valley, Llandudno’, monochrome, pencil annotation on reverse, ‘49. Mr G. Humphreys’, undated
‘New Gardens, Craig-y-Don, Llandudno’, monochrome, pencil annotation on reverse, ‘49. Mr G. Humphreys’, undated
‘Happy Valley from Great Orme, Llandudno’, monochrome, blank, undated
‘Rock Gardens, Happy Valley, Llandudno’, monochrome with colour tinting, blank, undated
‘Rock Gardens, Happy Valley, Llandudno’, polychrome, blank, undated
‘Rock Gardens, Happy Valley, Llandudno’, polychrome, with three figures, blank, undated
‘Statue in White Garden, Sissinghurst Castle’, monochrome, written to Mr and Mrs Woodward from the Cassidys, postmarked 1964
‘A unique attraction of Wester Ross, Inverewe Gardens, Poolewe, has many visitors from all over the world. Its famous collection of plants and shrubs includes this colourful border of Primula ‘Inverewe’. A property of The National Trust for Scotland’, polychrome, written to Mr and Mrs Woodward from Janet Anstis, 1963
‘Hidcote Manor Garden - White Garden’, polychrome, no addressee, written from Ann and Rees, Sep 1988
‘Internationale Gartenbau-Ausstellung Hamburg, 26. April 13. Oktober 1963’, polychrome, written to A Woodward Esq from the Cassidys, 1963
‘Nice, le Jardin du Roi Albert 1er et le Casino Municipal’, polychrome, written to Monsieur Humphries from Monsieur Inglis, 1938
‘Interlaken, Blumenuhr im Kurgarten’, polychrome, written to Mr and Mrs Humphries from Edith and Ernest, 1951
‘Villa Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal, Jardim Marginal, Marginal garden, Jardin marginal’, polychrome, written to Mr Arthur Woodward from Basil[?], 1964
Archival history:
These papers were rescued by Ann Rawlings, friend of Arthur Woodward after his death.
Immediate source of acquisition:
The archive was donated by Ann Rawlings between Jan 2013 and Apr 2014.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note:
Catalogued by Liz Taylor, RHS Lindley Library archivist, in Oct 2014. Packaged by Jennian Geddes and Annie Johns, RHS Lindley Library volunteers.
Date(s) of descriptions: 2013-09-27