Harts House in Woodford where Gardenia first bloomed in UK

He was passionately interested in botany and studied the various plants growing in the locality. He published a list of these for his friends under the title of Plantae Woodfordienses. He also cultivated rare plants in his garden at Harts where he had a hothouse.

Among many learned friends he was on good terms with Philip Miller (1691-1771) who, for close on 50 years, was the head gardener of what is now called the Chelsea Physic Garden where he cultivated many new plants from abroad.

Richard Warner (1713-1775) of Harts House

The middle of the 18th century was a time of mounting interest in plants brought back from all corners of the world. In 1759 Princess Augusta and Lord Bute established the original botanic garden at Kew, making use of a ‘Great stove’ or hothouse that continued to function for exactly a century, until it was finally superseded by the Temperate House. Soon after he returned from the voyage on the Endeavour (1768-71) with Captain Cook, botanist Joseph Banks (1743-1820) became involved with the development of what we know today as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This picture of the house was painted by Kitty Clarke-Jervoise, Warner’s niece. Sharon Eames has kindly donated them to Redbridge Heritage Centre. The house was rebuilt in 1815/6.

Richard Warner’s claim to botanical fame is that it was at Harts that the first Gardenia bloomed in this country. The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 1760, Vol.LI, pages 508-9 refer to “the ‘Cape Jasmine’ (as it is commonly called, the gardenia florida of Linneus)” describing it as “the most rare and beautiful shrub that has yet been introduced into European gardens, as well for the refreshing aromatic smell of its milk-white flowers, as the perpetual verdure of its leaves, which are like those of the lemon-tree.” The article goes on to say “We are indebted to Capt. Hutchinson, of the Godolphin Indiaman, for this curious discovery, who, about six years ago, found it growing near the Cape of Good Hope, and, on his arrival here, presented it to Richard Warner, Esq. of Woodford, Essex.”

The Godolphin (3) had left the English Channel in February 1752, visited India, Sumatra, Java and then called in at the Cape late in November 1753, before returning home in April 1754. The manager of Godolphin (3) was Charles Raymond who was in the process of moving to Valentines Mansion at that time. He probably knew Warner’s interest and suggested the plant be given to him.

It is likely that Warner’s hot house was similar to the orangery at Dyrham Park, built c.1701 to designs by Talman. Image: Georgina Green

Warner tended it in his hothouse and after four years it produced some flowers. Philip Miller came from Chelsea to see it and after examining it, decided it was a jasmine. Three more of the leading botanists of the day came to see it but they did not agree with Miller’s conclusion so Warner wrote to Carl Linnaeus, enclosing a dried specimen. The Swedish expert declared it to be a new species but Warner refused the honour of having it named a ‘Warneria’. It was eventually to become known as a Gardenia, after Dr Alexander Garden of South Carolina, who had been in correspondence with the experts about the flower.

Gardenia jasminoides at the Chelsea Physic Garden in August 2008. Image: Georgina Green

Apparently, Warner had great difficulty in propagating this valuable plant, either from cuttings, or by “inarching it on the yellow Indian jasmine, as he had been advised”. [inarching is a method of grafting] So he gave two cuttings to James Gordon, gardener at Mile End, who was able to increase their number, eventually selling them for 5 guineas a plant. (£5 25p) He had such success that it was estimated he made £500 from the plant.

• Georgina Green has been involved with local history in Redbridge, Waltham Forest and the Epping Forest area for 40 years and is the author of several local history books. She was elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2021.