SMITH family of Scotland Nursery, Tansley

Scotland Nursery location on Ordnance Survey map dated 1889

Scotland Nursery, near Tansley, was run by the SMITH family, who moved from Manchester about 1824. Directorship was handed down from father Joseph to son James then grandsons James Thomas and Ernest Herbert. When Ernest died in 1965, 3 generations of SMITH had controlled Scotland Nursery for 141 years. In 1966, the business applied for and was awarded the Royal Warrant by the Queen, as a result of supplying several Royal gardens for many years. The gardens supplied were Sandringham, Balmoral and the Castle of Mey (The Queen Mother’s home on the Caithness coast).

In 1966, the business applied for and was awarded the Royal Warrant by the Queen...

For the Autumn 1867, and Spring 1868 Wholesale Catalogue of TREES, SHRUBS Grown and Sold by JOSEPH SMITH, Sen., Tansley and Scotland Nurseries

SMITH family of Tansley

1767 1768 James Martha SMITH=====v=====ROWLAND 1857 | 1849 | |-------|--------|---|---|------|------| 1795 1803 1805 1807 1810 1812 Joseph Stephen Samuel Arrow James Jane 1876 1820 1833 1892 1894 | | | | 1795 1801 E Joseph Sarah (01-02) 1822 (01-02) SMITH=====v=====BLAND 1876 | 1887 | |---------|------|-|------|------|-----|-------|-------|-----|------|-------|------|------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1824 1826 1827 1829 1834 1835 1836 1840 1842 1845 1845 1847 1847 Stephan Joseph Hannah Martha Mary Ann Louisa Jane Mary Sarah Samuel Sydney James (01-10) (01-02) (01-02) (01-02) (01-02) (02) (02) (09-22) (02) | | | | | | | | A B C D

Links to Census for "SMITH, nursery" 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |

A | | 1824 1826 Stephen Marina (08-11-12) 1850 (08-11-12) SMITH=====v=====ELSE 1904 | 1882 | |------|----||------|-------|------| | | | | | | 1851 1855 1860 1862 1864 1866 Samuel Agnes Joseph Charles Henry George (08-10-12)(08-12)(08-12)(08-12) (08-12) | 1864 | 1870 1851 1 1855 2 Mary Samuel Sarah Jane (10-27)1883 Ann 1893 (27) SMITH===v===BURKINSHAW =====v=====SMITH 1938 | 1888 | 1939 | | 1888 1895 Maud Stephan Annie (27) (10-27) Four generations of SMITH family men were remarkably long-lived. Between 1767 and 1965, 10 males averaged 83 years (+7 -11). These were grandfather SMITH, father, 4 sons and 4 grandsons.

B | | 1831 1826 Mary Joseph Mortimer (03-04-05-28) 1853 (03) SMITH=====v=====EATON 1903 | 1867 |----|---| | | | 1861 | Blanche | (03) 1857 1860 Joseph Annie Arrow Elizabeth (13-16-23) 1881 (16-23) SMITH=====v=====TAYLOR 1948 | 1933 | |-----|---|----||----|-----| | | | | | | 1882 1884 1891 1893 1894 1896 Mary Ada Maud Annie Sarah Joseph G (16-23) M O A (16-23) (16) (23) (23) (23) C | | 1845 1846 Sydney Lydia (09-22) 1870 (09-22) SMITH=====v=====HAYES 1917 | 1916 | |----|-----|--|--|------|-----| | | | | | | 1872 1873 1875 1877 1878 1880 John Sarah Lydia Walter James Sydney (09) (09) (09) Hayes (09) (09) (09)

D | | 1848 1846 James Sarah (05-07) 1868 (05-07) SMITH=====v=====EATON 1926 | 1913 | |-------|------|---|---|-------| | | | | | 1870 1873 1875 1877 1880 Eleanor Mary Annie James Ernest (05) (07) (07) Thomas Herbert 1938 (07) (07) 1963 1965 | | 1879 1877 Kate James Rebecca 1902 Thomas COOKE=====v=====SMITH 1910 | 1963 |----|---| | | 1904 | James 1910 Leonard Hubert 1996 E | | 1811 1802 James 1833? Sarah SMITH=====v=====X | |-----|-------|--|--|-----|----| | | | | | | 1834 1836 1838 1840 1842 1844 Eliza Herbert Arrow James Mary Sydney 1904 Jane | | 1838 1844 Arrow 1868 Martha SMITH=====v=====WRIGHT 1904 | 1916 |-----|------|--------||--------| | | | | | 1869 1871 1873 1877 1879 James Mathew Florence Elizabeth Arthur Wright Sarah Wright

Census for James and Sarah SMITH and their offspring. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1841 Census for Sydnope, Darley SMITH, James M 25 1816 Derbyshire SMITH, Sarah F 30 1811 Derbyshire SMITH, Eliza F 7 1834 Derbyshire SMITH, Herbert M 5 1836 Derbyshire SMITH, Arrow M 3 1838 Derbyshire SMITH, James M 1 1840 Derbyshire ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1851 Census for Darley Moore, SMITH, Sarah Head Mar F 48 1803 Nursery Man's Wife Manchester Lancaster SMITH, Herbert Son Unm M 14 1837 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Arrow Son M 12 1839 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, James Son M 10 1841 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Mary Jan Dau F 8 1843 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Sydney Son M 6 1845 Scholar Darley Derbyshire ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1861 Census for Twodales, Darley SMITH, James Head Mar M 50 1811 Nursery Man Master Ashover Derbyshire SMITH, Sarah Wife Mar F 57 1804 Nursery Man Wife Manchester Lancashire SMITH, Herbert Son Unm M 24 1837 Nurserymans Servant Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Arrow Son Unm M 22 1839 Nurserymans Servant Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Mary Jane Dau Unm F 18 1843 Employed At Home Darley Derbyshire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1871 Census for Green Lane, Darley SMITH, Arrow Head M 33 1838 Derbyshire SMITH, Martha Wife F 27 1844 Staffordshire SMITH, James Son M 1 1870 Derbyshire SMITH, Mathew W Son M 0 1871 Derbyshire HANNAH, Holland Serv F 9 1862 Derbyshire ---------------------------------------------- 1881 Census for Rose Cottage, Darley Aka North Darley SMITH, Arrow Head Mar M 42 1839 Nurseryman Darley Derbyshire SMITH, James Son Sin M 12 1869 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Matthew W Son Sin M 10 1871 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Florence S Dau Sin F 8 1873 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Elizabeth Dau Sin F 6 1875 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Arthur Son Sin M 2 1879 Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Sarah Moth Mar F 79 1802 Annuitant Manchester Lancashire WILDGOOSE, Ann Serv Sin F 17 1864 General Serv Darley Derbyshire --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1891 Census for Wheatley House, Darley Bridge, Darley, Sydnope SMITH, Arrow Head Mar M 53 1838 Nurseryman Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Martha Wife Mar F 47 1844 Eccleshall Staffordshire SMITH, James Son Sin M 21 1870 Nurseryman Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Matthew Wright Son Sin M 20 1871 Nurseryman Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Florence Sarah Dau Sin F 18 1873 Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Elizabeth Dau F 14 1877 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Arthur Wright Son M 12 1879 Scholar Darley Derbyshire SMITH, Sarah Moth Mar F 88 1803 Matlock Derbyshire --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1901 Census for Wheatley House, Darley SMITH, Arrow Head Mar M 63 1838 Nurseryman Darley Dale Derbyshire SMITH, Martha Wife Mar F 57 1844 Stafford Staffordshire SMITH, Matthew W Son Sin M 30 1871 Nursery Gardener Darley Dale Derbyshire SMITH, Florence S Dau Sin F 27 1874 Darley Dale Derbyshire SMITH, Elizabeth Dau Sin F 24 1877 Darley Dale Derbyshire SMITH, Arthur W Son Sin M 22 1879 Architect & Surveyor Darley Dale Derbyshire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1911 Census for Wheatley House Darley Dale Near Matlock SMITH, Martha Head Wid F 67 1844 Ranton Abbey Staffs SMITH, Arthur Wright Son Sin M 32 1879 Cashier Darley Derbyshire PILKINGTON, Mary Serv Sin F 25 1886 General Servant Domestic Darley Derbyshire FORD, Lucy Serv Sin F 21 1890 Nurse Sick Kirk Ireton Derbyshire --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tansley BAPTISMS from www.tansleychurch.org.uk/registers.html SMITH Sarah Joseph & Sarah 04 12 1842 SMITH Emily Henry & Ann 25 08 1844 SMITH Samuel Joseph & Sarah 16 03 1845 SMITH Sarah Catherine Samuel & Mary 04 05 1845 SMITH John Samuel & Mary 26 06 1847 SMITH James Joseph & Sarah 11 07 1847 SMITH Eliza John & Susanna 09 10 1853 SMITH Thomas John & Susanna 09 10 1853 SMITH Mary (2/8/50) Samuel & Mary 12 12 1853 SMITH Anne Samuel & Mary 12 12 1853 SMITH Agnes Stephen & Marina 01 04 1855 SMITH Mary William & Dorothy 17 03 1856 SMITH Fanny 17 04 1859 SMITH Charles John & Ellen 18 09 1859 SMITH Blanche Joseph & Mary Mortimer 04 02 1861 SMITH Cecilia Sarah 05 08 1863 SMITH Henry Stephen & Marina 05 07 1864 SMITH William Henry & Mary 30 11 1865 SMITH George Stephen & Marina 29 04 1866 SMITH Sarah Henry & Mary 09 06 1867 SMITH Sydney(3 months old) Joseph & Mary Mortimer 05 09 1867 SMITH Annie Stephen & Sarah 09 01 1868 SMITH Mary Henry & Mary 16 05 1869 SMITH Mary Jane Samuel & Sarah 09 03 1870 SMITH Fred Reginald Joseph & Anne 27 12 1870 SMITH Samuel Henry & Mary 28 05 1871 SMITH Joseph Samuel & Sarah 23 06 1871 SMITH John Henry & Mary 24 05 1874 SMITH Edith Lotty Joseph & Ann 20 07 1876 SMITH Harriet Jane (adult) Samuel & Mary 31 12 1876 SMITH Selina (4/5/78) Samuel & Sarah 24 03 1879 SMITH Agnes Henry & Mary 16 05 1880 SMITH George Henry Henry & Mary 16 05 1880 SMITH Mary Gertrude Joseph Arrow & Annie Elizabeth 17 04 1882 SMITH James Annie 18 05 1883 SMITH Louisa (4/12/81) Samuel & Sarah 08 12 1883 SMITH Emily (13/2/84) Joseph & Mary 25 10 1884 SMITH Ada (29/7/84) Joseph Arrow & Annie Elizabeth 01 11 1884 SMITH Feebzo ?? (28?/9/85) Benjamin & Hannah 10 10 1885 SMITH Sarah Benjamin & Hannah 10 10 1885 SMITH Agnes Elizabeth (8/10/85) Joseph & Mary 09 03 1886 SMITH George Cyril (10/7/86) William & Elizabeth(dcd) 06 10 1886 SMITH Jonathan (6/1/87) Henry & Mary 13 03 1887 SMITH Annie Eliza (16/1/81) Henry & Mary 13 03 1887 SMITH Maud Annie Samuel & Sarah Ann 06 10 1888 SMITH Samuel (29/6/83) John & Mary 05 08 1890 SMITH George (30/10/86) John & Mary 05 08 1890 SMITH John (7/11/90) John & Mary 22 11 1890 SMITH Albert (7/11/90) John & Mary 22 11 1890 SMITH Maud (3/1/91) Joseph Arrow & Annie Elizabeth 29 03 1891 SMITH Alice (3/5/91) Milicent 29 06 1891 SMITH Annie Mortimer (2/11/92) Joseph Arrow & Ann Elizabeth 01 01 1893 SMITH Sarah (9/11/91) John & Mary 23 01 1893 SMITH Alfred Freckingham (13/5/93) Frederick & Mary Ann 16 07 1893 SMITH Sarah Winifred (18/11/93) Samuel & Mary Jane 07 01 1894 SMITH Sarah Olive (26/7/94) Joseph Arrow & Anne Elizabeth 26 09 1894 SMITH Stephen (27/7/95) Samuel & Mary Jane 01 09 1895 SMITH Colin (04/9/95) Frederick & Mary Ann 13 10 1895 SMITH James (23/6/95) John & Mary 28 11 1895 SMITH Joseph Arrow (05/8/96) Joseph Arrow & Ann Elizabeth 15 09 1896 SMITH Samuel James (10/5/96) Agnes 04 10 1896 SMITH Mary Elizabeth (29/1/99) Edward & Mary 29 03 1899 SMITH Doris (9/9/99) John Edwin & Annis 15 10 1899 SMITH** Annie Beatrice Joseph & Anne 13 02 1872

Tansley MARRIAGES from www.tansleychurch.org.uk/registers.html Smith - Benjamin Watts - Grace 14 12 1896 Smith - George Henry Hursthouse - Elizabeth 27 06 1898 Smith - John Hurd - Susanna 26 05 1847 Smith - John Edwin Dore - Annis 07 09 1898 Smith - Joseph Fox - Harriet 26 05 1894 Smith - William Wilson - Dorothy 22 01 1853 Smith - William Smith - Elizabeth 01 07 1877

Tansley BURIALS from www.tansleychurch.org.uk/registers.html Smith Elizabeth Tansley 22 Dec 1840 16m 1 Smith Maria Tansley 11 Jan 1852 52 123 Smith Mary Lea 05 Oct 1856 48 154 Smith Samuel Tansley 03 Jan 1862 72 196 SW Smith Cecily Tansley 10 Feb 1864 7m 220 Smith Ann Matlock 09 Jun 1864 74 226 Smith Henry Tansley 06 Jul 1864 2d 228 Smith William Tansley 20 Jan 1866 7m 245 Smith Mary Mortimer Tansley 09 Jul 1867 37 265 Smith Sarah Matlock 22 Jan 1868 79 274 SW Smith John Tansley 30 Apr 1868 80 277 Smith Fred Reginald Tansley 31 Dec 1870 3w 313 Smith Joseph Ashover 07 Jun 1876 81 374 S/I Smith Samuel Tansley 07 Apr 1880 83 431 Smith Ellen Tansley 12 May 1880 11m 435 Smith Sarah Tansley 16 Aug 1881 35 452 S/I Smith Mary Tansley 04 Nov 1882 80 462 Smith Marina Tansley 12 Dec 1882 55 466 SE/J37 Smith Bella Ashover 21 Mar 1885 8m 498 Smith Dorothy Tansley 13 Mar 1886 11m 513 Smith Elizabeth Tansley 20 Sep 1886 33 522 Smith George Cyril Tansley 13 Oct 1886 2m 523 Smith Sarah Ashover 05 Jun 1887 86 537 S/I Smith Sarah Ann Tansley 14 Aug 1888 33 553 Smith William Tansley 16 Sep 1889 21d 567 Smith Samuel Tansley 13 Nov 1889 68 569 Smith Mary Tansley 05 Apr 1890 72 578 Smith Isaac Tansley 27 Mar 1891 55 594 Smith Sarah Winifred The Cliff 09 Jul 1895 20m 664 Smith Sarah Matlock Green 02 Aug 1897 58 695 Smith Sydney Bernard Tansley(Old Nurseries) 27 Sep 1898 18 712 Smith Henry Fox Holes 10 Jan 1900 60 732 N/J13 Smith Joseph Matlock Bank 16 Sep 1903 78 794 Smith Stephen Matlock Green 22 Aug 1904 81 815 SE/J37 Smith John Tansley(Thatchers Lane) 01 Mar 1906 59 842 Smith Mary Tansley 21 Aug 1908 54 899 Smith William Starkholmes 17 Mar 1914 61 988 Smith Gladys Eaton Tansley(Scotland Villa) 31 Jul 1915 9 1009 N/F04 Smith Edna Wilkes Tansley(Scotland Villa) 13 Nov 1915 5 1015 N/F04 Smith Mary Tansley(Long Row) 25 Apr 1916 75 1023 Smith Bessie Matlock Cliff 11 Jul 1916 3 1027 Smith Lydia Tansley(Nottingham Rd) 07 Oct 1916 70 1028 Smith Sydney Tansley 31 Jan 1917 72 1033 Smith Richard Tansley(Heathy Lea) 13 Mar 1918 81 1052 N/J12 Smith Spiers Hannah Matlock Moor 17 Jan 1925 64 1149 Smith James Ashover(Scotland) 13 Jul 1926 79 1176 SE/I24 Smith Robert Matlock Moor(Friars Planting)02 Aug 1927 76 1192 Smith Harold Leslie The Cliff 23 Jan 1932 6 1250 Smith Thomas Matlock(Asker Farm) 11 Mar 1932 33 1257 SE/H03 Smith Harold Tansley(Mount Pleasant Farm)11 Apr 1932 18 1260 SE/H11 Smith William Holloway(North View) 22 Apr 1932 51 1261 Smith Annie Elizabeth Tansley(Gold Hill 02 May 1933 73 1278 SE/H20 Smith Josephine Tansley(The Knoll) 02 Feb 1935 3m 1306 Smith Sarah Elizabeth Tansley(Masson Terr) 18 Jun 1935 37 1314 SE/G08 Smith Sydney Tansley(The Knoll) 25 Jun 1935 68 1316 SE/F01 Smith Mary Ashover 11 Nov 1935 75 1323 N/J12 Smith James Tansley(Thatchers Lane) 26 Feb 1936 40 1327 SE/G15 Smith Elizabeth Matlock(Asker Farm) 30 Apr 1936 62 1333 SE/H03 Smith Mary Ann Tansley(South View) 30 Oct 1937 72 1354 SE/G27 Smith Frederic Matlock(Lime Grove Ave) 21 Mar 1938 68 1362 SE/G27 Smith Dinah Anne Wirksworth 20 May 1938 1m 1364 Smith Samuel Tansley(Brookdale Terr) 22 Oct 1938 88 1373 SE/G33 Smith Mary Jane Tansley(Brookdale Terr) 17 May 1939 69 1384 SE/G33 Smith Mary Tansley 27 Jul 1940 76 1402 SE/F01 Smith Edward Tansley(Thatchers Lane) 09 Sep 1941 77 1420 SE/F23 Smith John Tansley(Moorland Cottage) 15 Jan 1943 69 1439 SE/F36 Smith George Henry Ashover(Brakelow Farm) 20 Dec 1944 67 1464 SE/E05 Smith Joseph Matlock(Asker Farm) 05 Jun 1945 72 1474 SE/E01 Smith Florence Mickleover(County Hospital)18 Mar 1947 79 1510 SE/F36 Smith Joseph Arrow Tansley(Goldhill) 04 Feb 1948 91 1520 SE/H20 Smith Stephen Tansley(Brookdale Terr) 07 Jun 1949 53 1537 SE/G33 Smith Thomas The Cliff(Yew Tree Farm) 23 May 1950 68 1553 SE/B04 Smith Ada Tansley(Butterley) 30 Dec 1950 68 1564 SE/B21 Smith Selina Jane Frances Matlock Cliff(Yew Tree Farm) 08 Feb 1951 70 1570 SE/B04 Smith Mary Tansley(Beech House) 07 Apr 1951 81 1576 SE/F23 Smith Annie Matlock(Dale Road) 22 May 1951 68 1578 SE/B14 Smith Geoffrey Matlock(Edge Road) 05 Aug 1953 18 1612 SE/C25 Smith Sarah Lily Matlock(Wellington St) 03 Jun 1954 52 1624 SE/C29 Smith Eleanor Gertrude Lumsdale 03 Jul 1954 36 1627 SE/E13 Smith George D.R.I. 29 Oct 1957 70 1670 Smith Harriet Agnes Buxton Hosp 29 Jul 1958 73 1678 Smith Daniel Tansley(The Knoll) 13 Feb 1960 78 1702 SE/B21 Smith Kate Rebecca Derby Nursing Home 18 Jan 1961 82 1720 NE/F08 Smith Johnathan Tansley(Foxholes) 18 Apr 1962 75 1749 NE/D09 Smith James Thomas Tansley(Nottingham Rd) 29 Jan 1963 86 1760 NE/F08 Smith Ethel Red House Farm 30 Jul 1964 73 1779 N/J12 Smith Elizabeth Tansley(Rest Cottages) 02 Jan 1965 92 1785 Smith Samuel Tansley(Red House Farm) 04 Mar 1965 78 1790 NE/E12 Smith Ernest Herbert Tansley(Oak Lodge) 08 Apr 1965 85 1794 Smith Ann Tansley(Red House Farm) 02 Apr 1966 75 1803 NE/E12 Smith Maud Annie Tansley(Brookdale Terr) 13 Sep 1966 78 1810 SE/G33 Smith Alfred Freckingham Matlock(Chesterfield Rd) 02 Feb 1967 73 1815 SE/C29 Smith Joseph Arrow Tansley(Masson Terr) 16 Mar 1967 70 1818 SE/G08 Smith Robert Tansley 17 Jan 1968 60 1833 NE/B15 Smith Minnie Matlock(Hurst Rise) 19 Jun 1968 80 1835 NE/B16 Smith Sarah Olive Tansley(Gold Hill) 17 Mar 1972 77 1886 SE/H20 Smith Annie Wilkes Tansley(Oak Lodge) 01 Jun 1972 90 1889 Smith Levi Tansley(The Rocks) 14 Nov 1972 89 1891 Smith James Colin Tansley(The Knoll) 14 Dec 1972 67 1893 NE/B18 Smith Mary Ellen 02 Apr 1973 89 1897 Smith Hannah Maria Tansley(Whitelea Lane) 28 Sep 1973 87 1903 NE/C20 Smith Annie Matlock 09 Sep 1975 73 1922 SE/C25 Smith Elizabeth Tansley(The Knoll) 28 Sep 1976 73 1936 NE/B18 Smith Clement Matlock 06 Feb 1978 74 1952 SE/C25 Smith William Henry 17 Mar 1979 82 1967 NE/C20 Smith Ada Matlock(Chesterfield Rd) 15 Nov 1984 79 2021 GR/A07 Smith Denzl Matlock(Hurds Hollow) 27 Oct 1987 71 2049 NE/A09 Smith Charles ?? ??? 1917 10 NIR SE/B14 Smith William Killed in action 25 Aug 1917 19 NIR SE/H03$ Smith Hubert Matlock 16 Nov 1992 83 2101 SE/A15 Smith Beatrice Jane Matlock Bath 17 Sep 1993 80 2111 crem Smith Clara Grace Matlock 22 Nov 1993 85 2116 SE/A15 Smith Ernest Matlock 18 Jan 1994 92 2119 crem Smith Sarah Joan Chesterfield Road 13 Jun 1996 74 2139 NE/F25 Smith Lucy Leoni Tansley 02 Jan 1999 90 2163 NE/B15 Smith Dorothy Maud Tansley 31 Jan 2003 81 2196 NE/A09

Quoted from http://www.scotlandnurseries.net/garden-centre/history/ History Scotland Nurseries was so named because the land and terrain planted by the Smiths with acres of heathers and rhododendrons resembled a little piece of Scotland. Tradition has it that Scotland Nurseries, whether in the title of Joseph Smith or James Smith, has been in existence for 300 years! There is no concrete evidence of this, but a glance at the history books suggests that this won’t be far adrift. A catalogue from the late 1940s stated that the company had been growing hardy nursery stock for over 150 years, which would put the company (not yet limited) in existence in the early 1800s. An earlier copy of a catalogue from 1867 (above) shows that, at this stage, the nurseries were owned by Joseph Smith. At this time the land comprised approximately 25 acres and grew a significant amount of forestry plants for large landed estates. On the death of Joseph Smith, his son James renamed it ‘James Smith – Scotland Nurseries’. Although James continued the business, he wasn’t a fully committed nurseryman, and preferred shooting on the surrounding moorland with his dogs rather than working the business. James was found dead with his dogs on the land above the present car park; rumour has it that he was partial to the odd whiskey! His sons Ernest and Thomas Smith then inherited what had become a very run-down company. Most of the property, which included Scotland House, Scotland Villa and all the 200 acres of land, were highly mortgaged. Together the two brothers rebuilt the business and gradually paid off all the mortgages. At the advent of the First World War, most of the workmen were ‘called up’ to fight on the Western Front in France and the dray horses, which did the ploughing and pulling of the carts of trees down to Matlock station, were also requisitioned. The growing of trees was cut back, as the land was taken over for the war effort and had to produce crops, potatoes and vegetables for the Ministry of Agriculture. German prisoners of war were eventually used to work on the land to replace the men who had been enlisted. After the war, the two brothers continued to rebuild the nursery and it became very successful. In 1931 it became a limited company. At this time, many new varieties of plants were being grown, including acid-lovers like Rhododendrons and Heathers. The land at Butlers Ground and Dewey Lane was acidic, whilst the land at the main nursery was alkaline. As a consequence, a comprehensive range of native species and also some unusual varieties could be grown with great success. During the 1930s, the company became very famous and its name became synonymous with quality and hardiness, possibly due to its altitude – it stands at 900ft above sea level. In 1939, with the start of the Second World War, the nursery again returned to growing crops on contract for the government while still growing trees, although on a more modest scale. In 1948 Colonel Peter Hilton, on retiring from the army, joined the company to learn the business. With Colonel Hilton being married to Ernest Smith’s only daughter, Winifred, he seemed the most likely candidate to eventually take over. Following the death of Tom and Ernest Smith in the early 1960s, Colonel Hilton became managing director and continued to build up the business. Andrew Hilton and Richard Hilton were also now involved, along with Hubert Smith, the son of Tom Smith. In 1966, the business applied for and was awarded the Royal Warrant by the Queen, as a result of supplying several Royal gardens for many years. The gardens supplied were Sandringham, Balmoral and the Castle of Mey (The Queen Mother’s home on the Caithness coast). From this date onwards, the company was allowed (under strict controls of size of the crest) to display the Royal Coat of Arms on its letterheads, catalogues and vehicles. To continue to do this, it was imperative to obtain orders from the Royal Houses in future years. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the business continued to trade successfully, despite the emergence of many super-sized garden centres, selling everything from plants to craft goods and sundries. Woolworths even opened its own plant department! Many local authorities still supported Scotland Nurseries by purchasing their plants and hanging baskets. In the later 1980s, however, direct buying from continental firms, using pot grown produce and trees, effectively killed off a large part of the ‘open ground’ method of cultivating nursery stock.

emails

----Anyone with more details for publication on this webpage, please email ---- ---------------------------------------------- Jeremy Evans writes on 23jan2012: John, I am not too sure about the details of when the original nursery business was started, but I believe it was by James Smith, or his father (at the top of the present tree), over at Sydnope (Two Dales Nursery). I believe that James Smith was the gamekeeper at Sydnope Hall and Martha was the cook before they married – Sydnope Hall being owned by a branch of the Darwin family. I saw this in a booklet about Sydnope in the local studies library in Matlock about 10 years ago - I did make a photocopy but have mislaid it at the moment so can't remember what the book was called unfortunately. I think their son Joseph Smith started Scotland Nursery, whilst his brothers ran nurseries over in Darley Dale. I read one document in Derbyshire record office stating that one piece of land had been purchased to expand Scotland Nurseries from the adjoining Nightingale Estate, which was owned by relatives of Florence Nightingale. Jeremy Evans

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