The Apothcaries' Garden at Chelsea was founded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries in 1673, and renamed the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1875. The Society was itself founded by Royal Charter in 1617 as a trade association for those whom today we would call pharmacists. Apothecaries, as well as dispensing medicine, were involved in the gathering and processing of medicinal plants. It was important, therefore, that they had somewhere to study and grow the plants they would one day prepare.
The Chelsea Physic Garden was established in 1673 on a four acre plot of land in the privately owned Manor of Chelsea. It was leased from Buckinghamshire MP, Charles Cheyne, by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries so that they could plant a garden where students could learn to identify the medicinal plants that they would one day prepare for their customers. Additionally, it would provide somewhere they could build a boathouse for their official barge.
In 1682 the then Curator, John Watts, having established contact with the Professor of Botany at Leiden University invited him to visit. It was during that visit that the idea of the plant and seed exchange was born, a programme which continues today.
In 1712 Charles Cheyne sold his estate to Dr Hans Sloane, the noted physician and collector whose extensive assortment of curiosities would one day be left to the nation as the basis of the British Museum. Sloane, himself, had studied at the Physic Garden in his youth, and became concerned when he saw the Apothecaries' difficulties in maintaining their tenure. In 1722 he guaranteed them a permanent lease for the fixed amount of five pounds per year, an arrangement which is still ongoing.
Renowned botanist Philip Miller, author of the hugely popular Gardener's Dictionary, shepherded the Garden into its Golden Age. As well as enhancing the seed exchange programme, cultivating many plants that had never before been seen in the UK, he also shared his expertise with other botanists and students.
One such student was Joseph Banks, naturalist and explorer, who later brought back to Chelsea the ballast of Icelandic lava that was used on his ship, the St Lawrence. This helped build the famous rock garden, first of its kind in Europe, that was completed in 1773. Many of the plant specimens collected on his voyage of discovery with James Cook on the Endeavour were also donated to the Physic Garden.
When Botany was dropped from the medical curriculum at the end of the 19th century, the Society of Apothecaries gave up the running of the Garden and the lease was taken up by the City Parochial Foundation. It was still a resource for scientific research, but not in the same way of old. In 1983 it became a registered charity, opening its gates up to the public for the first time.
But there's always a silver lining, and in this instance it was the opening up of the Garden to the general public. So if you want to tread in the footsteps of Phillip Miller, or see what Joseph Banks used to steady his ship, then a fascinating day out awaits you.
The Chelsea Physic Garden was established in 1673 on a four acre plot of land in the privately owned Manor of Chelsea. It was leased from Buckinghamshire MP, Charles Cheyne, by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries so that they could plant a garden where students could learn to identify the medicinal plants that they would one day prepare for their customers. Additionally, it would provide somewhere they could build a boathouse for their official barge.
In 1682 the then Curator, John Watts, having established contact with the Professor of Botany at Leiden University invited him to visit. It was during that visit that the idea of the plant and seed exchange was born, a programme which continues today.
In 1712 Charles Cheyne sold his estate to Dr Hans Sloane, the noted physician and collector whose extensive assortment of curiosities would one day be left to the nation as the basis of the British Museum. Sloane, himself, had studied at the Physic Garden in his youth, and became concerned when he saw the Apothecaries' difficulties in maintaining their tenure. In 1722 he guaranteed them a permanent lease for the fixed amount of five pounds per year, an arrangement which is still ongoing.
Renowned botanist Philip Miller, author of the hugely popular Gardener's Dictionary, shepherded the Garden into its Golden Age. As well as enhancing the seed exchange programme, cultivating many plants that had never before been seen in the UK, he also shared his expertise with other botanists and students.
One such student was Joseph Banks, naturalist and explorer, who later brought back to Chelsea the ballast of Icelandic lava that was used on his ship, the St Lawrence. This helped build the famous rock garden, first of its kind in Europe, that was completed in 1773. Many of the plant specimens collected on his voyage of discovery with James Cook on the Endeavour were also donated to the Physic Garden.
When Botany was dropped from the medical curriculum at the end of the 19th century, the Society of Apothecaries gave up the running of the Garden and the lease was taken up by the City Parochial Foundation. It was still a resource for scientific research, but not in the same way of old. In 1983 it became a registered charity, opening its gates up to the public for the first time.
But there's always a silver lining, and in this instance it was the opening up of the Garden to the general public. So if you want to tread in the footsteps of Phillip Miller, or see what Joseph Banks used to steady his ship, then a fascinating day out awaits you.
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