• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Danesbury Fernery

Researching and Restoring the Danesbury Victorian Fernery

  • About
  • Volunteering
  • History
    • The House
      • Historical note – the Closure of Danesbury Hospital in 1993
    • The Families
      • A time Line – Post Fernery
    • The Fernery
      • Fern Fever
      • The Gardener
      • Pulhamite
  • Garden
    • Design Objectives
  • Location
  • Calendar
  • Support Us
    • Funding
    • Donate
    • Join us
  • Photos
    • Victorian Fernery
      • Excavation – stages
      • Garden Restoration – stages
    • Ferns
    • Wildflowers in Danesbury Fernery – Jenny’s Index
    • Local Nature Reserve
    • Butterflies/Invertebrates
    • Fungi
    • Wild Flowers – Nature Reserve
  • Reports
    • Progress
    • Visits
  • Contact
You are here: Home / The Families

The Families

The Blakes were the third owners of Danesbury, and it was William John Blake, son of William Blake, who in 1859 directed their Head Gardener, Anthony Parsons, to build a Fernery. It was completed in 1860 and later gained wide acclaim.

The Blakes moved out of Danesbury in 1902 and after renting it out, eventually sold the house in 1919 to the Dewar family. The Dewars were destined to be the last family to live there.

The Dewars moved out in 1937 and in 1939 the House became a TB Hospital. Danesbury Park itself was requisitioned by the Army in 1943 and operated as a Command Bakery run by the Royal Army Service Corps.

In 1944 the Dewars sold the estate to the Barnet (Hospital) Management Group and the House became home for long stay hospital patients.

Primary Sidebar

Earlier News

Notice of Work Parties – Thursday 19th May 2022

Weather Forecast - long range Sunny intervals and a gentle … [Read More...] about Notice of Work Parties – Thursday 19th May 2022

The Rockwork Repaired

Following the closure of The Fernery and restoration of the rockwork by Alan … [Read More...] about The Rockwork Repaired

A new Chairman for the FODF

Following the retirement of John Roper, we are delighted to announce that Sara … [Read More...] about A new Chairman for the FODF

Archives

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 Friends of Danesbury Fernery (FODF). Non attributed photography by John Roper.