Article (newspaper)  (Nov 2014)  Page(s) 2.  Includes photo(s).
 
Patrcia Routley: I now cannot recall how Lynne Joyce and I first met, but undoubtedly it was to do with old roses. Lynne and her family lived on the eastern side of Bridgetown where they had an acre or two for their horses. She would go riding around Bridgetown and on her way, she noted many old roses growing at the old properties. Being a gardener, Lynne brought home cuttings and grew them on in her garden. The ramblers she put all along their fence and in time they formed a massive hedge. One rose she was particularly fond of was a rambling rose and Lynne had no idea what it was, just that it was delightfully and strongly perfumed. As it had no name, when my cutting struck, it went into my garden records book in 2003 as “Lynne Joyce’s Rambler - 3rd up from gate”. Like Lynne, I put it on a fence, but here the fences are mostly shaded from the tall karri’s and it hasn’t grown as well as it should. In the early years of its life here, I was fascinated by its big black thorns. Later I realized they came out red and matured to black, before turning to gray in old age. These big black thorns were so similar to those of R. brunonii with the same fat, lusty canes which want to reach for the sky, before I gently persuade them to bend and grow horizontally along the fence. There had to be a connection between these two roses. I started looking at the descendants of R. brunonii (from the Himalayas in 1823) and the search quickly pointed to Mme. d’Arblay bred just 12 years later in 1835 by William Wells in Kent, UK. This rose later gained a synonym of ‘Wells’ White’. The books and old catalogues were consulted and all was typed up in chronological order. The quoted parentage in the literature is R. multiflora (seed parent) x R. brunonii (pollen parent). It still seemed quite feasible that my rose was ‘Mme. d’Arblay’ but, really there was no proof, only surmising, until my friend, Billy West visited England and photographed for me in great detail, the ‘Mme. d’Arblay’ growing at Mottisfont. She and I have both put our photographs in the ‘Mme. d’Arblay’ file on HelpMefind.com and after 11 years, there is no longer any doubt in my mind. ‘Mme. d’Arblay’ has pink buds, opening to clusters of 2” semi-double white blooms; foliated sepals, a long receptacle and glandular pedicels and stipules. The foliage seems to have a blue-ish tint. Like R. brunonii it flowers in spring only – In Northcliffe it starts flowering about mid November. The fragrance is truly wonderful. The rose was named after Frances Burney 1752-1840, an English novelist, diarist and playwright. In 1793, aged 42, she married a French exile, General Alexandre D'Arblay. She would have been 83 years old when William Wells named this fragrant rambling rose after her.

Book  (2006)  Page(s) 276.  
 
‘Mme. d’Arblay’ [Wells White Climber]. R. r cccc 5 Wells, 1835. Provenance: SHRG.
One of the rare old Ramblers like ‘The Garland’ from the same breeder who introduced that rose in the same year. All the charm of the early offspring of Rosa multifora. Pale flesh pink buds open magnolia white, small, double, in very large clusters; exceedingly fragrant.

Book  (2003)  Page(s) 23.  
 
Western Hybrids of R. brunonii. ‘Mme. d’Arblay’ syn ‘Well’s White’ [Wells, 1835].

Book  (1993)  Page(s) 204.  Includes photo(s).
 
A rambling climber or shrub of trailing growth, sometimes classed as a Hybrid Musk. Wells (Britain) 1835. (Rosa multiflora x Rosa moschata) Summer flowering. 6 ft x 6 ft. Well scented.

Book  (1988)  Page(s) 90.  Includes photo(s).
 
Photo. Early rambler, 'Madame d'Arblay' from Mr. Wells of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, 1835; here seen at Mottisfont.

In 1835 an amateur enthusiast in England, a Mr. Wells of Tunbridge Wells introduced two rambling roses using, it is thought R. moschata x R. multiflora for 'The Garland' and reversing the parents for 'Madame d'Arblay'. ...... though 'Madame'; makes but rare appearances - and the only one I have seen graces an old apple tree at Mottisfont. However, it was known early in the USA and called by Robert Buist 'Wells' White Climber', deemed very hardy and vigorous and thought by him a possible good stock rose.

Book  (1988)  Page(s) 85.  Includes photo(s).
 
'Mme. d'Arblay'. A rambler raised by Wells in 1835. Growth up to 6m, trailing. Flowers in clusters, well scented, at midsummer only. Parentage: ?R. multiflora x R. moshata

Website/Catalog  (1986)  Page(s) 52.  
 
Mme. d’Arblay* (Rambler) Cascading clusters of small, cupped flowers of blush pink to white.  Scented and very vigorous. P. Shade tolerant. N. (S) 20 x 20’.

Book  (1936)  Page(s) 31.  
 
d'Arbley, mme. (hybrid moschata) Waldstein or Wells ? ; tender flesh-coloured, fades to white, cluster-flowered, growth 8/10, climbing, 3 m., hardy. Sangerhausen

Book  (1936)  Page(s) 192.  
 
Darblay, Mme. (moschata) = d'Arbley

Magazine  (24 Jun 1922)  Page(s) 333.  
 
"Some Early-Flowering Ramblers."
Climbing Roses seem to be extra vigorous this season, in contrast to the dwarf kinds, which, apparently, found the hot, dry summer of last year too exhaustive of their energies, and old plants especially seem much weakened in consequence. The foliage and growth of climbers are strong and healthy, whilst the flower trusses also are extra vigorous. [...]
Mme. d'Arblay is a pretty, hybrid-musk, white cluster Rose with a very faint pink tinge in the bud. The trusses are large, and the flowers are sweetly fragrant. Being a strong grower, this Rose may be used for furnishing tall pillars and pergolas.