History Collection

Marianne North at her easel, circa 1883
Photograph of Marianne North (1830-1890), botanical artist, pictured here in Grahamstown, South Africa circa 1883. Marianne North generally travelled unaccompanied

Marianne North by Julia Margaret Cameron
The artist Marianne North photographed by Julia Margaret Cameron, circa 1877, Ceylon

Tableau Physique des Andes et Pays voisins - Physical Tableau of the Andes and Neighboring Countries
This illustration was based on Alexander von Humboldts famous Naturgemälde (nature painting) of 1807, an early infographic that showed variation in the vegetation of the Andes

New wing to Temperate House- plan no 5
Plan showing new wing to the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Cochineal beetle harvest, by Eadweard Muybridge
Dactylopius coccus, cochineal beetles being harvested from Opuntia cacti, Antigua, West Indies, for the production of carminic acid used in the carmine dye, cochineal

The Wardian case, ca 1912-1959
Image of a horticulturalist packing plants into a Wardian Case ready for transportation. The Wardian case was a portable airtight greenhouse developed by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward to protect live plant

An exact plan of the Royal Palace Gardens and Park at Richmond, 1754
Engraving representing An exact plan of of the Royal Palace Gardens and Park at Richmond with Sion House on the opposite side o the River Thames

Carl von Linnaeus, Swedish botanist and taxonomist
Swedish botanist and taxonomist Carl von Linnaeus (Carolus von Linnaeus, later Carl von Linne) 1707-1778. Artist: Mrs Anderson (fl. 1858)

506. Dragon Tree at Orotava, Teneriffe
This is the largest descendent of the famous tree of which a short history is given under 511

Barrons Tree Transplanter
A 19th century horse drawn machine used to move trees up to 20m

Group portrait showing Women Gardeners
Photograph showing eight gardening staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, including the first two women gardeners, in work uniform. Photograph taken in the Rock Garden, c.1898

Wardian case in use
The Wardian case was used to protect and transport plants. It was invented by Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (1791-1868)

Eleanor Morland, Gertude Cope and Alice Hutchings, Kew gardeners, 1898
Eleanor Morland, Gertude Cope and Alice Hutchings, Kew gardeners, pictured in 1898, at RBG Kew. By 1902 all the women gardeners had left to take up horticultural posts elsewhere

511. Dragon Tree in the Garden of Mr. Smith, Teneriffe
The Dragon Tree, or more correctly the Dragons Blood Tree (Dracaena Draco, L.), is a native of Teneriffe, and is one of the most celebrated trees in the annals of natural history

Liberian coffee in Ceylon (Plate I), 1878
Illustration depicting a man standing with a shrub of Coffea liberica, and a withered specimen of Coffea arabica infected with Hemileia vastatrix

Waterlily Pond, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ca 1900
The waterlily pond, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ca 1900. The pond was one of Sir William Thiselton-Dyers additions, heated by condensed steam from the local water supply

Francis Bauer 1758 - 1840, Botanical Illustrator
Portrait of Francis Bauer (1758-1840), F.R.S. F.L.S, oil on canvas, ca. early 19th century. Unknown artist. 920 mm x 700 mm

The Palm House
Archival photograph of the Palm House

planting bulbs on the Broadwalk

The Great Pagoda, (exterior)
Sir William Chambers first published this design of the Pagoda in 1763 in his Plans, elevations, sections, and perspective views of the gardens and buildings at Kew in Surry

A View of the Wilderness with the Alhambra, the Pagoda and the
Illustration from William Chambers 1763 publication, Plans, elevations, sections, and perspective views of the gardens and buildings at Kew in Surry. Engraving on paper

Thomas Drummond A. L. S. (1793-1835)
Portrait of Thomas Drummond (1793-1835), coloured chalk on paper, by Daniel Macnee (1806-1882). Drummond was born in Angus c. 1793. He was the first Curator of Belfast Botanic Garden, 1828-31

Carl von Linnaeus, Swedish botanist and taxonomist
Line and stipple engraving of Carl Linnaeus by Charles Edward Wagstaff, after Magnus Hallman Stipple.Linnaeus wears the Swedish Order of the Polar Star

Portrait of George Bentham (1800 -1884)
George Bentham (1800-1884), CMG, LLD, FRS, PLS (copy of a portrait by Lowes Cato Dickinson) by Emily Mary Merrick (attributed to) Portrait of George Bentham (1800-1884)

Seedlings of Cinchona succirubra, India, 1861
Seedlings of Cinchona succirubra, photographed on arrival in Ootacamund, southern India, 9 April 1861. Collected by Richard Spruce in Ecuador, the plants were received by WIlliam McIvor

Marianne North by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1800s
Photographic portrait of Marianne North by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1800s

Tableau physique des Andes et pays voisins - Physical Tableau of the Andes and Neighboring Countries
" Physical Tableau of the Andes and Neighboring Countries (Tableau physique des Andes et pays voisins), " in Alexander von Humboldt and Aim

Plan of the Palm House, 1860
Plan of the Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1860

The Temperate House- plan no 9
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Portrait of William Townsend Aiton (1766 - 1849)
Lithograph portrait of William Townsend Aiton

From top of Choonjerma Pass. 15, 000ft looking West over Nepal, snows, 1848
Pencil sketch from top of Choonjerma Pass [Mirgin La Pass]. 15, 000ft looking West over Nepal. Illustrated by Joseph Dalton Hooker, 1848

Sea of mist from 16, 000ft elevation, from Choonjerma Pass, 1854
Watercolour of a Sea of mist from 16, 000ft elevation from Choonjerma Pass [Mirgin La Pass] by Walter Hood Fitch, 1854

24, 000ft Junnoo from Choonjerma Pass, 16, 000ft. East Nepal, 1854
Watercolour sketch of Junnoo [Kumbhakarna] from Choonjerma Pass [Mirgin La Pass] by Walter Hood Fitch, 1854

The Cinchona Region of South America, 1862
The shaded area indicates the native distribution of cinchona trees in the Andes. From Peruvian Bark: A Popular Account of the Introduction of Chinchona Cultivation into British India, 1860-1880

Lycaste aromatica, 1827
Illustration of Lycaste aromatica by Robert Kaye Greville and engraved by Joseph Swan. Artwork from Exotic flora: containing figures and descriptions of new

William Andrews Nesfields plan of the Broadwalk at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 12th May 1845

William Aiton (1731-1793)
Portrait of William Aiton (1731-1793), holding a plant in his right hand (species of Aitonia), and a magnifying glass in his left

Elizabeth Aiton (c. 1740-1826)
Portrait of Elizabeth Aiton (c.1740-1826), wife of William Aiton (1731-1793)

Portrait of William Aiton (1731-1793), holding a plant (Aitonia) in his right hand, and a hand lens in his left

The Temperate House - plan no 30
Plan of the Temperate House showing octagons details

The Temperate House- plan no 22
Plan of The Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, showing the section through the lower cornice and gutter

The Temperate House, plan no 1
Plan showing the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 4
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 5
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 8
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 8A
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House, plan no 10
The Temperate House- elevation showing principal entrances

The Temperate House- plan no 11
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 12
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 13
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 14
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 15
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 16
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 17
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 18
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 19
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 20
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- plan no 21
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Plan of the Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- Basement plan of Octagon Building
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Basement plan of Octagon Building showing two boilers to warm one wing and Octagon Building

New wings to Temperate House
Plan of the wings of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House- Ground plan of Octagon Building, 1860
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, showing proposed warming apparatus, 1860

The Temperate House- Iron rafters
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Sections full size of rolled iron rafters to upper roof of centre building

Block plan of proposed Temperate House, 1859
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1859

Earth beds and paths
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plan showing proposed arrangement of earth beds and paths, Centre House

Rain-water tanks under terrace, 1860
Plan of rainwater tanks under terrace, 1860

The Temperate House plan, 1861
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1861

The Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House, 1861
Illustration of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic gardens, Kew from the journal The Builder, 1861

Kew Temperate House
Illustration of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Plan of the Temperate House- smoke stacks, 1912
Plan of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, detailing new smoke stacks for boilers, H.M Office of works, Westminister, January 12th, 1912

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 10
Plan of the wings of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 11
Plan of the wings of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 8
Plan of the wings to the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 7
Plan of the wings to the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 4
Plan of the wings to the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 6
Plan of the wings to the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 1
Plan of the wings to the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

New wings to Temperate House- plan no 2
Plan of the wings of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1867
Newspaper article by The Illustrated London News, 11th May, 1867, describing the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Artocarpus altilis
Watercolour of Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit) collection of Miss Janet Hutton, 1894. Includes cross section of the plants fruit

Robert Fortune (1812-1880) born in Berwickshire, Scotland, was a botanist and plant-hunter best known for smuggling tea plants out of China at the behest of the East India Company

Stella Ross Craig, botanical artist
Stella Ross-Craig, born in 1906, received an early induction into plant life from her father, a botanist, who taught his young daughter to identify wild flowers

The Tea House, Kew Gardens, which opened in 1888, seen here before it was burned down by members of the womens suffrage movement as part of their campaign

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