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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
"Gardening emerged from the public house in 1837 to form the Leeds Horticultural Society and the Leeds Horticultural and Floral Society" - R.J.Morris.
The establishment of the Isle of Man Horticultural and Floral Society in the same year, would, according to Morris, have been no coincidence. 'Society formation tended to be influenced by fashion and the example of innovations in other urban areas.' The Isle of Man was never an urban centre in the manner of Leeds but acted, though small, as an independent society of more than provincial importance, equally in touch with modern trends. The difference of origin, Yorkshire roots in the traditions of groups of working class men increasing their horticultural knowledge in the convivial surroundings of the public house, and the Manx skills, descending from the efforts of individuals in the gardens of the privileged classes, rather than in the minimal gardening activities of the average Celtic Manxman, is simply a detail of place.
The Manx society's aim, published in the Manx Advertiser of 11 July, 1837, was 'to establish a floral and horticultural society, the object of which is to promote and improve the cultivation of the best kind of fruits; of the most choice sorts of flowers, and of those vegetable which are most useful for culinary purposes.' The list of subscribers, who paid 10s., each was headed by Lieutenant Governor Ready, the Deemsters, principal Manx families, Manx and expatriate gentry, and, last, four working gardeners in good situations. The society proceeded with exhibitions and shows througnout the Island, both public and private, fully reported in the papers, each winning entry supplying where applicable the name of the working gardener, and is noticed in the Mona's Herald of 22 June 1859 as giving the first Grand Exhibition and Musical Promenade of the season in the grounds of Castle Mona, in conjunction with the Douglas Amusement Committee. It is likely to have been active for some considerable time longer. There are no public admissions of difficulty and only one notice of overdue subscriptions, though the society would certainly be aware of other showing societies. The Manx Agricultural Society developed a show schedule for the smaller gardener and in the Manx Sun of 15 September 1860 offered a prize for 'the neatest cottage' and the 'best cultivated garden in occupation of a labourer'. Local societies sprang up and, eventually specialist shows, like the Douglas and Isle of Man Chrysanthemum Society founded in 1896, became extremely popular. A Chrysanthemum Society is at present still in existence in the south of the Island.
M.N.H.L, Isle of Man newspapers, ut supra et passim
R.J. Morris, 'Clubs, societies and associations', The Cambridge Social History
of Britain , 1750-1950 , vol. 3, Agencies and Institutions, ed. E.M.L. Thompson
(Cambridge 1990) pp. 411,412;
Larch S. Garrad, A History of Manx Gardens ,(Douglas 1986)
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
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