Henry Merryweather & Son nursery
Henry Merryweather sen., gardener employed by Rev. John Drake Becher
Henry Merryweather jun., his son (January 24, 1839 Carlton on Trent - 1932), introduced Bramley Seedling apple in 1862
Father and son bought in 1854 two acres of land along Halam Road, Southwell, and established their own nursery.
Children of Henry Merryweather jun.: William Henry (March 9, 1866 - 1947), John Edward (b. July 1, 1868), Ernest Arthur (June 15, 1872-1924), Elizabeth (September 1875 - Jan 10, 1947 Derby), Alfred George (b. December 21, 1877)
[From
The Gardeners' Magazine, September 28, 1912, p. 733-734:] Mr. H. Merryweather, J.P., the head of the firm of H. Merryweather & Sons, Ltd., whose portrait we have the pleasure of giving herewith, has long occupied a leading position in the horticultural trade of this country...The Southwell Nurseries...were founded about the middle of the last century by Mr. Merryweather's father...
[From
The Gardeners' Magazine, September 28, 1912, p. 738:] Notes on Southwell Nurseries...It is at Micklebarrow that the bulk of the roses are grown...
[From
The Garden, December 26,1914, Dedication:] It is with considerable pleasure that we dedicate this, the seventy-eighth volume of The Garden, to Mr. Henry Merrweather. who has devoted a long and strenuous life to horticulture. He was born as long ago as January 24, 1839. The son of a gentleman's gardener, he spent his earliest days in private gardens, but at the age of sixteen joined his father in a nursery business which laid the foundation of the now well-known firm of Messrs. H. Merryweather and Sons, Limited., Southwell, Notts. Early in his career, i.e., in the year 1858, about the time the first Rose Show was held in St. James's Hall, he made the acquaintance of the late Dean Hole, who was at that time hon. secretary of the Rose Show, and that commenced a friendship which became very intimate, and was only severed by the death of the venerable Dean. Mr. Merrweather recalls with interest a visit paid by Mr. William Robinson (who founded The Garden), Mr. Noel Humphreys and the late Dean to his nurseries at Southwell, when Mr. Humphreys took a-way with him a very' fine bloom of Rose Marechal Niel and wrote a diary of the flower in The Garden somewhere about the early sixties. One of the most important events of his life was the introduction of Apple Bramley's Seedling, which was raised in a garden at Southwell. Mr. Merryweather at once realised the value of this splendid culinary Apple, and secured the whole stock. When he first exhibited fruits before the Royal Horticultural Society in 1876, this variety received an award of merit, and subsequently, in 1883, it received the higher recognition of a first-class certificate. The cultivation and improvement of the Rose have always received considerable attention from our friend, and it is to his enterprise that we owe the beautiful Polyantha varieties Jessie and Phyllis. Although horticulture has naturally been his first love, local affairs have received considerable attention, and there is scarcely an organisation in and around Southwell that has not benefited by his presence. Two years ago he was appointed a county magistrate, a position that he fills with credit to himself and the county he represents. In spite of his advancing years, Mr. Merryweather enjoys good health and is as active as many men are at fifty. That he may long be spared to carry on his good work is our earnest wish, in which we feel sure all who have the honour to know him will heartily join.
[From
Garden Life, 1925, p. 286:] As older readers will know, Henry Merryweather, the founder of the house, was gardener to and friend of the great Dean Hole. I believe that Hole suggested to Merryweather that there was a fortune to....
[From the website of the Southwell Town Council: Henry Merryweather senior moved to Southwell to become a gardener to Rev J D Becher at Norwood Hall before buying two fields and setting up his garden nursery on land adjacent to the Hall
