HARRISONS NURSERY GARDEN, KENSINGTON

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 B/HRS
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: HARRISONS NURSERY GARDEN, KENSINGTON
Date(s)	: 1755-1839
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 0.88 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Harrisons Nursery Garden | Kensington

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Henry Hewitt began a nursery and seed business in Brompton in 1775 or earlier and this was carried on by his nephews John and Samuel Harrison. Some growing took place at the nursery but the majority of stock was grown by country farmers on contract. The business was run with some success and had regular clients in all parts of England, including many titled families. It was the practice for one of the partners to travel round the country to collect payment for outstanding accounts and probably orders (for the expenses for these trips include many gratuities to gardeners). In spite of this and an apparent high turnover, however, clients were bad at paying bills and the business was sometimes in difficulties. New partners brought fresh capital from time to time. The last partner was William Bristowe who joined in 1829 with a fourth share, the firm then being described as Harrison and Bristowe. In 1833, Samuel Harrison was described as a bankrupt.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of Harrisons Nursery Garden in Kensington, 1755-1839. The most interesting are the records of the nursery and seed business begun by Henry Hewitt in 1775 or earlier and carried on by his nephews John and Samuel Harrison. These include account books and stock books which list a wide variety of seeds of vegetables and flowers, bulbs bought from Holland, and seedlings of various ornamental trees, shrubs and fruit trees. Some were grown at the nursery but the majority were grown by country farmers on contract. The business was run with some success and had regular clients in all parts of England including many titled families. It was the practice for one of the partners to travel round the country to collect payment for outstanding accounts and probably orders (for the expenses for these trips include many gratuities to gardeners). In spite of this and an apparent high turnover, however, clients were bad at paying bills and the business was sometimes in difficulties. New partners brought fresh capital from time to time. The last partner was William Bristowe who joined in 1819 with, a fourth share, the firm then being described as Harrison and Bristowe. In 1833, however, Samuel Harrison was described as a bankrupt.

Also included are the records of Lane and Prideaux, solicitors, 1775-1839, concerning the settlement of the estate of Samuel Harrison, a bankrupt, and the estate of his uncle Henry Hewitt, d.1790 and other relatives and friends for whom the Harrison family acted as executors, and the payment of annuities under Henry Hewitt's will.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

B/HRS/001-013 Accounts, valuation of stock, etc. B/HRS/014-043 Partnership agreements B/HRS/044-052 Leases of Nursery Ground B/HRS/053-389 Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy; Probate and Administration B/HRS/390-753 Records relating to the administration of the estates of deceased relatives of the Hewitt-Harrison family: Henry and Samuel Hewitt and others.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access

.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright rests with the City of London.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated to the Archive in 1966.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
July to October 2009