They progressed, often through marrying for money, from printers in Seventeenth Century London to landed gentry in the Enfield area. Perhaps of most interest to our gardening club was ' Gussy' Bowles. He was a self taught horticulturalist, botanist, writer and artist who lived there all his life and tended the gardens at Myddelton House. He inherited the estate in 1918 having already been busy in the gardens for two decades. The pond, paths and structural planting pre-date his work. Areas such as the Alpine Meadow were inspired by his plant hunting holidays in the Alps, taken it is said, in the summer months to combat his hay fever. The Meadow in Spring is carpeted with snowdrops, fritillaries, daffodils and his particular favourite crocuses. He became known as the ' Crocus King '. He was a great supporter of community projects such as the hospital and the grammar school and also encouraged local people to use the gardens and help maintain them. Being less interested in the house he lead a Spartan existence for much of his life with no gas or electricity. Henry Ferryman Bowles, his brother, lived next door at Forty Hall. It was this branch of the family that had royal connections.
Joe gave us much information to digest and perhaps for some a nudge that a return visit to the gardens at Myddelton House was overdue.