Rosemary Verey Papers (PP)


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This finding aid was produced in English.

Finding aid produced using NoteTab Pro
Collectors: Verey, Rosemary.
Title: Rosemary Verey Papers (PP)
Dates: 1982-2001
Quantity: 21.9 linear feet; 13 boxes
Call Phrase: Rosemary Verey (PP)

Biography of Rosemary Verey

Rosemary Isabel Baird Sandilands was born on December 21, 1918. As a girl, she was athletic, outdoorsy and studious. She went on to study mathematics and economics at the University College of London but left in 1939 before earning her degree to marry architectural historian David Verey. They went on to have four children. During this time, Rosemary Verey began to read more about plants and gardening, and soon became fascinated by them.

In 1951, her husband was bequeathed the Verey family estate of Barnsley House, a seventeenth century rectory in the Cotswolds. By the 1960's Rosemary had begun to transform the gardens, which they opened to the public in 1970, incorporating strong architectural details which her husband either found and transported, or built himself. Rosemary experimented with various plants, and collected clippings from famous gardens all over the world. The Barnsley House gardens remain one of England's most visited private gardens today.

In 1980 she published the first of her seventeen books, The Englishwoman's Garden, and began to receive international attention. She gave lectures in America on traditional English-style gardens and took on students from all over the world, including Barbara Paul Robinson, who would go on to write Rosemary's biography and become a member of the New York Botanical Garden's Board. Rosemary designed gardens for celebrities, royals and historic houses including three gardens for Prince Charles at Highgrove and Sir Elton John's estate Woodside. In 1988, Barnsley House was awarded the Christie's and Historic Houses Association Garden of the Year Award.

In the mid-1980's she met Gregory Long, the future president of NYBG while on an American lecture circuit, and the two maintained a close professional relationship for the next two decades. In November of 1998, she designed an ornamental vegetable potager for NYBG, the only public garden she designed in America. A modified version of her plan will debut at the opening of the Garden's Edible Academy in June 2018. The garden will serve to teach children and families about growing and preparing herbs and vegetables.

In 1996, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire and in 1998, became a Distinguished Counselor to the Board at NYBG. In 1999 she received an award from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Victoria Medal of Honor from the Royal Horticultural Society. She died in London on May 31, 2001 at the age of 82. A memorial for her was held at NYBG in June. She bequeathed her papers to NYBG, and they were donated by her son Charles in January of 2007. An auction held in 2014 at Bloomsbury Auctions in London dispersed the working library of Rosemary Verey.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of Verey's working papers related to her various garden design projects. It documents her career as a garden designer and consultant from 1982 until her death in 2001.

Series 2 comprises some ninety garden plans which bear the numbers she assigned to each project. There are gaps in the numbering sequence and the location of the missing plans is not known. There are also plans for which there are no corresponding project file folders.

Following the plans is a series of cassette tapes which record her memorial service held at NYBG. These tapes were donated by Barbara Paul Robinson who reviewed this collection in the making of her biography on Rosemary published in 2012.

Arrangement
The collection is organized into three series:
Series 1: Project files.
Series 2: Project plans.
Series 3: Memorial service.

Restrictions

Access restrictions

This collection is open for research with permission from Mertz Library staff.

Copyright

Requests for permission to publish material from the collection should be submitted in writing to the LuEsther T. Mertz Library of the New York Botanical Garden.

Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Persons
Verey, Rosemary -- Archives.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Rosemary Verey Papers (PP), Archives, The New York Botanical Garden.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to NYBG in 2007.

Processing Information

Originally processed in May 2018 by Katharine Hicks, Archives Volunteer, and Stephen Sinon, Archivist. Converted to EAD by Lisa Studier

Container List

 

Series 1. Project files.

Box Title Date
1 Ablington Manor, Correspondence, plant lists, plans 1983
1 Allsopp, Photographs, catalogues, plans, plant list, invoice 1996-1997
1 Alnwick, Photographs, negatives, notes, correspondence, invoices, plans, research on Alnwick Castle (1887-1929), monograph ("The Invisible Gardens: Alnwick Castle") 1996
1 D'Arenberg, Prince, Correspondence, plans 1992
1 Ascot Place, Flick, Correspondence, plans, meeting agenda, photographs, "Ascot Place, Berkshire" essay, film negatives, notes, sitemaps, blueprints 1989
1 Barker, Lushill, Photographs, notes, negatives, drawings 1985
1 Barn, The, Long Newnton, Blueprints, notes, plant list, correspondence 1990
1 Barnsley House, Plans n.d.
1 Beck, Antony, Correspondence, plans, garden structures catalog, invoice, Gainesway stud price list, plant list, photographs, film negatives, Graham Beck interview, vegetable calendar for central Kentucky, "Stuart Garden Architecture" 2000-2001
1 Bischoff, Photographs, correspondence, site map, Royal Horticultural Society newsletter 1996 1986-1987
1 Bradstock, Rupert, the Old Rectory, Photographs, film negatives, correspondence, plan, notes 1997-1998
1 Bramlett, Photographs, article "Kent Bramlett Foundation to Restore Historic Castle", correspondence, plans, plant list 1997
1 Brassard, Nigel a, Photographs, plans, correspondence, plant list 1990-1991
1 Brenton, Sue, Des Moines, Plans, drawings, correspondence, photographs, plant lists 2001
1 Brinckman, Somerford Keynes, Photographs, blueprint, plant lists, invoice, plans, timeline, catalogue of apple trees (New Tree Nurseries), Cranborne Stone Garden Ornament catalogue, Classical Stone Gardenn Ornaments catalogue, Peter Nyssen Autumn 2000 catalogue, correspondence 1999
1 Bramlett, Nashville, Photographs, plans, plant lists 1997
1 Buckhurst Park, Meeting minutes, notes, correspondence, "General Comments on Improvement and Maintenance", plant lists, invoices, plans, drawings, photographs, 35mm slides 1991-1993
1 Burtonboys, Belgium, Photographs, seed catalogs, correspondence, plans, plant list, site map, meeting notes 1995-1996
1 Bushton, Angus, Correspondence, "Report of my visit to Bushton Manor", plan 1989
2 Cawdor, Photographs, film negatives, correspondence, plant list, Cawdor Castle brochure, plans, room notes by Lord Cawdor, article; "How to Grow a Medieval Garden" 1988-1989
2 Chamberlayne, Mears Ashby, Correspondence, plans, invoices, plant list 1994-1995
2 Chambers, Anne Cox, Photographs, film negatives, correspondence, potager plant list 1992, 1998
2 Chelsea Flower Show 1985, 1992
2 Crickhowell, Photographs, film negatives, correspondence, plans 1988
2 Crowe, Photographs, correspondence, plans, blueprints 1994-1995
2 Dartington, Photograph, film negatives, Dartington Hall brochure, correspondence, plans 1989-1990
2 Dennis, Ron, West Byfleet, Plans, land surveys, correspondence, catalog, photographs 1995-1996
2 Farmer, Perry, Saltway House, Photographs, correspondence, invoices, plant lists 1995
2 Ferris, Photographs, film negatives, correspondence 1999
2 Fisher, Seed catalogs, correspondence, plans 2000
2 Forbes, Bryan, Seven Pines, Wentworth, Correspondence 1996
2 Fort Belvedere, Receipts, notes, rabbit-proof plant list 1998
2 Gardner Museum, Isabella Stewart, Correspondence, photographs 1999
2 Gibbs, Audrey, Plans 1988
2 Glympton Park, Correspondence, Glympton Park Estate brochure, notes 1988
2 Graham, David, Photographs, correspondence, plant list 1991
2 Green, H., Photographs, drawings
2 Haddington, Hamilton, Lamp of Lothian Trust programs, correspondence, article "The Garden of Haddington House" 1998
2 Hamilton, Duchess of, Notebook, photograph, plans, correspondence, invoices, notes n.d.
2 Hankyu Department Store, Osaka, Japan, Drawings, plans, correspondence 1997
2 Hardwick House, Photographs, film negatives, correspondence, map 2000
2 Harne, Alastair and Sheilian, notes (single sheet) 1988
2 Heritage Purchase, Correspondence, blueprints, site location map 1987
2 Highgrove, Plans 1992
2 Holdenby, Notes, correspondence, plant lists, plans 1994-1995
3 Huntingdon, Photographs, film negatives, plans 1987
3 Hussein, King, Castlewood House, Photographs, correspondence, plans 1998
3 Japanese Embassy, Plans, correspondence 1992
3 Jones, The Old Rectory, Berwick, Correspondence, plant list, plans 1988
3 Keiser, Susan, Reference pictures, background info on plants n.d.
3 Kingham Hill House, Plans, correspondence, plant lists 1995
3 Konig, Caroline, Photographs, correspondence, plant lists, notes, plans, nursery price list 1999
3 Krehbiel, Posy, Lake Forest, Photographs, seed catalog, plant list, plans 1998-1999
3 Lewis, Richard, Photographs, plans, garden ornaments catalog 1982
3 Longleat, Plans, plant lists, notes, correspondence 1985
3 Luton Hoo, Luton Hoo brochure, correspondence, Rosemary Verey C.V., invoice, plans (Seating Area, Cafe Terrace, Central Square, Perimeter) 1990
3 Mclwham, Photographs, correspondence, plans 1995-1996
3 Miller, Bill, Knoxville, Photographs, Correspondence, plans, tree list 1999
3 Monaughty, Photographs, correspondence, nursery price list, notes, drawings, plant list, invoice 1986
3 Mount Stewart/ Bute, Plans, plant list, Nether Lypiatt n.d.
3 New York Botanical Garden, Seed catalogs, correspondence, plans, notes, glossary of edible plants, photographs, meeting agenda, drawings, potting shed plan, compost bin plan, "Rosemary Verey's Garden Design Elements" memo, survey, proposed programming, invoices, notes on espalier garden 1998-2001
4 Norman, Anne, Meeting notes, plans, plant list, invoice 1987
4 Notgrove, Photographs, plans, correspondence, theme list, seed catalog 1986
4 Olney, Correspondence, plans 1994
4 Olsen, Photographs, journal with plant lists, plans, correspondence, invoices, issue of Country Life 1997-1998
4 Pearson, Notes, plant list 1988
4 Pederson, Plant lists, notes, plans
4 Penrose/ Robinson, Photographs, negatives, feature;"Anne Robinson", preliminary cost analysis, plans, correspondence, invoices, plant list, blueprints 1994-1998
4 Phillips, Scilla, Notes, plant lists, invoices
4 Pugsley, Shiplake House, Photographs, film negatives, "Recommendations for Alterations to Shiplake House Garden", correspondence, site maps 1989-1990
4 Rainer, Billy, Seed catalog, blueprints 1991
4 Reed, Karen, Correspondence, plans, photographs 1997
4 Reynolds, Little House, Drawings, invoices, notes, blueprint, seed catalog, correspondence
4 St. Johnston, Kerry, Correspondence 1988
4 Samling at Dovenest, Correspondence, "Lakeland Paradise for Pampered Executives" from The Financial Times, 1995, objectives, informational brochure on Samling 1995-1996
4 Sanford, Richard, Photographs, correspondence, blueprints, plans, seed catalog, plant lists, drawings, negatives, drawings, invoice, Sophie Ryder interview 1992-1996
4 Sarsden, 35mm slides, correspondence, research on Sarsden House, plans, land surveys, "Report on the Landscape of Sarsden Park, Oxfordshire" 1992-1993
4 Stevens, Penny, (Ongar), Photographs, film negatives, correspondence 2001
5 Sundridge Park, Photographs, plant lists, correspondence, plans, blueprints, "Sundridge Park: words and drawings"
5 Sutton Place, Photographs, plans, correspondence, knot garden detail, Journal of Landscape Design 1983, site map, blueprint 1988
5 Tumblers Bottom Herb Farm, correspondence
5 Vaughan-Lee, Somerton Randle, Photographs, plans, correspondence 1994
5 Watson, Rupert and Caroline, London garden, Plant lists, plans, correspondence 1983
5 Wenmans, Barnsley, Photographs, film negatives, notes, plans 1989
5 Williamstrip Park, Plant list 1985
5 Woodside I, Woodside Future, Photographs, film negatives, correspondence, invoices, site map, plans, blueprints 1990-1993
5 Woodside II, Woodside Plants, Photographs, correspondence, plant list, Henry Venables timber restoration brochure, invoices, plans, interview with Elton John, stock list, meeting minutes, lyrics first album 1989-1993
5 Woodside III, Photos, Photographs 1994
5 Woodside IV, Part I, negatives, correspondence, invoices, plant lists 1994
5 Woodside IV, Part 2, Section 2, photographs, correspondence, plans 1994
5 Woodside IV, Part 3, Photographs, plant lists, seed catalog, invoices, correspondence, notes, plans 1992-1995
5 Woodside Invoices, Correspondence, invoices 1992-1993
5 Wykeham-Musgrove, Jane, Planting proposal, main house plans, notes, correspondence 1991
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Series 2. Project plans

Box Title Date
6 D001 Wenmans, Full garden, copy of full garden, pool garden detail, copy of pool garden detail, herb garden detail n.d.
6 D007 Huntington, The potager of old rectory Sudborough and copy 1988
6 D008 Little House/ Farm House, Full garden for Arthur and Catherine R. 1986
6 D009 Hinton House, Detail of box garden n.d.
6 D010A Luton Hoo, Full garden, three copies of full garden n.d.
6 D010B Luton Hoo, Detail of beech hedge n.d.
6 D011A Jacksonville, Plan A, copy of Plan A 1990
6 D011B Jacksonville, Plan B, two copies of Plan B 1990
6 D013 Darington, Forecourt plan 1990
6 D014 Nether Lypiatt, Full garden for Princess Michael of Kent 1986
6 D018A Hinton House, Revised ground plan n.d.
6 D018B Hinton House, bound, n.d. Revised White Garden plan with plant list, Potager plan with plant list, John Brown Cottage Garden with plant list, Pool Garden with plant list, alternative design for Gazebo Garden n.d.
6 D022 Mrs. Noon, Sherborne Cottage, Full garden with notes 1996
6 D024 Williamstrip Park, Vegetable Garden draft proposal, Fan Garden detail, copy of Fan Garden detail 1985
6 D028 Barnsley, Detail of Vista to Fountain n.d.
6 D029 Trouson, Full Garden, Greenhouse detail, Prunus statue detail, greenhouse detail, greenhouse detail 1959
7 D041 Takabe, Full Garden, two annotated copies, detail of Fountain, Gate, and Bridge, copy of detail of Fountain, Gate, and Bridge n.d.
7 D046A Anne Norman, Design for Three Stage Layout of the Garden of G.G Gilmour White at Rendcombe in two pieces
7 D048A Fisher House, Bridge elevation, Bridge view from the East, Bridge view from the North, view of the Grotto, view from the Grotto, South Pavilion, Main Entrance, view from the Pond, the Great House, Pool and Pool House, view of the Lake 1999-2000
7 D048B Fisher House, Detail of Stair to White Garden, Sunken Garden Fountain, Shade Garden Dome, the Grotto, Pool Pavilion 2000
7 D051A Chelsea Flower Show, Highfield Fruit Garden 1984
7 D051B Chelsea Flower Show, Herb Gardens 1985
7 D053A Sanford, Potager plantings, artichokes and figs, copy of potager plantings Three copies of details of Potager garden 1997
7 D053B Sanford, Winter Garden, copy of Winter Garden n.d.
7 D053C Sanford, Detail of Topiary, Copy of detail of Topiary n.d.
7 D053D Sanford, Ideas for sitting partition Potager, Draft 1, Copy of Draft 1, Draft 2, Draft 3 n.d.
7 D055 Longleat, Herbaceous Garden, copy of Herbaceous Garden 1985
7 D056 Bute/ Mount Stewart, Proposal for Ornamental and Teaching Garden with copy 1991
7 D089 Bute/ Mount Stewart, Proposal for Ornamental and Teaching Garden with copy 1991
7 D058, unlabeled
8 D057A Ron Dennis, Full Garden, copy of Full Garden, detail of Potager Garden 1995
8 D057B Ron Dennis, Detail of Potager, detail of Herb Garden, detail of Picking Garden 1995
8 D073 B.H Potager, Detail of Potager, copy of detail n.d.
8 D074 B.H Temple, Detail of Temple Garden, copy of detail n.d.
8 D075A Highgrove, Plants to move n.d.
8 D075B Highgrove, Original design on cardboard n.d.
8 D078 Miss Barrie/Broadway, Knot Garden, original in two pieces, copy 1985
8 D079A Sunridge Park, Rough Border Sketch, Sketch with Annotations 1992
8 D082 Walled Garden, Ascot Place, Detail of rose arbor, glass houses 1989
8 D086 Woodside/ White Garden, Detail of white garden, one copy with annotations, two copies n.d.
8 D087 Woodside/ Scented Garden, Detail of scented garden, two annotated copies n.d.
8 D090 Woodside/ Potager, Detail of potager n.d.
8 NYBG, Plan for vegetable garden, four annotated copies 1999
9 D002 Highgrove/ Barnsley, Proposed cottage garden for Highgrove 1988
9 D003 Washbrook, Proposed plan for Mrs. C. Thin, Washbrook House n.d.
9 D004 Little House, Detail of lily pond n.d.
9 D005 Holcombe Green, Garden Proposal n.d.
9 D015 Clearcupboard, Farmington, Garden proposals for John Barrow and Jilly Cooper n.d.
9 D016 Wenmans, Planting plans book
9 D021 Chelsea Flower Show, (portfolio), Plant list, Details of North, South, East and West Boundaries, Lawn drawing, Vegetable Garden, conservatory 1992
9 D021A Sir Anthony Royle/ Lord Fanshawe, Knot Garden for the Chapter Manor, South Cerney 1985
9 D021B Hugo Colnille, The ground floor granary Barcote Buckland n.d.
9 D026 Barnsley, Full garden with two copies, detail of Path to the Close n.d.
9 D027, unlabeled
9 D030 East Leach House, Garden plan 1983
9 D031 Kingham Hill, Proposal for Kingham Hill Garden, annotated copy, detail of play area/ tennis court 1993
9 Cirencester Hospital n.d.
9 D033 Holker, Outline of garden n.d.
9 D034 Ron Dennis, Original plan, two copies 1995
9 D036 Woodside, Tuscan Temple detail, Center pool detail n.d.
9 D038 Molson, Planned garden for Ian and Verena Molson 1995
9 D039 Dunley, Proposed Garden, two copies 200?
9 D040 Dovenest, Existing survey 427/1 with annotations, one copy, Existing survey 427/2, two copies, Revised plan n.d.
10 D041 Takabe, Detail of Eastern side n.d.
10 D043 Jones/ Berwick, Garden plan for Mr. and Mrs. Jones, the Old Rectory of Berwick 1988
10 D044 Field House/ Abbington, Garden plan, detail of house plan
10 D046 Ann Norman, Overall plan for Hammerton House n.d.
10 D061 Brenton Des Moines, A country house for Mr. Vernon Clark Blueprint Chart 3 n.d.
10 D062 Lady Cawdor, Fountain paths, copy of fountain paths, detail of Eastern gate, copy of detail of Eastern gate 1988
10 D065 Ongar, Detail of lake, overlay with plat details n.d.
10 D066 Hinton House, Plant material notes n.d.
10 D068 Dunley House, Garden plan, two annotated copies n.d.
10 D069 Fisher House, Detail of Section A (The Shade Garden, Croquet Court, Fisher Residence, Highlands), Detail of Rock Garden, Detail of Rose and Cutting Garden, Detail of Pond Garden n.d.
10 D071 Mrs. Reid/ Anshalia, Plan of feature survey of 31 Highfield Rd. n.d.
10 D072 Sanford, Detail of wall garden with detail of pavillion n.d.
10 D079 Sunridge Park, Garden design on cardboard n.d.
10 James David's Design, Rosemary's Cottage Garden, detail of Rosemary's Cottage Garden, Detail of Rose Arbor n.d.
11 D048A Fisher House, Detail of Vegetable Garden, Detail of Herb Garden, Detail of Terrace Garden
11 D048B Fisher House, Master Plan, Garden Plan, First Floor House Plan, Pool, and Garden Plan
11 D063 David Walker/ Dunley House, Plan of proposed garden, copy with annotations, plan of residence 2000
11 D064 Long Newton, Garden Plan, outline of Garden n.d.
11 D081 Woodside, Garden plan n.d.
12 D079 Sunridge Park, Proposed planting plan for terrace border 1992
12 D091 New York Botanical Garden, Ornamental Vegetable Garden plans 2000
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Series 3. Cassette Tapes.

Box Title Date
13 Rosemary Verey Memorial, 9/21/01, Tape 1 2001
13 Rosemary Verey Memorial, 9/21/01, Tape 2 2001
13 Rosemary Verey Memorial, 9/21/01, Tape 3 2001
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