The History of Lavender Growing
Early history of lavender
Lavandula angustifolia originates from the South of France, where it grows wild, but it’s been growing in UK gardens for centuries. Although it was probably brought over by the Romans for its medicinal properties, it’s not thought to have been readily available here until around the sixteenth century.
UK lavender industry in the 1800s and early 1900s
There was a thriving lavender-growing industry here from Victorian times right up to the First World War. Unfortunately it dwindled at that time due to a combination of plant disease and lack of manpower. The centre of the industry was London where it was sold by street-sellers to fragrance linen. As the city expanded with the industrial revolution, the growers were forced to move out into the home counties. Hitchin in Hertfordshire and Carshalton in Surrey are two such areas. They are still associated with lavender, and still support small-scale growers. The picture at the top of the page dates from the early 1900s and shows some English lavender bunches just cut and ready to take to market in a horse and cart.
Since the war
When other growers were having hard times and dwindling, the growers in Norfolk battled on. They benefited from the dry conditions there, and Norfolk Lavender was for some time the primary lavender business in the UK.
Recent times
These days, with consumers once again interested in the properties of lavender, combined with the need for farming diversification, small growers are popping up all over the country. In 2010 our estimate of the number of commercial lavender growers in the UK was about ten. These days we’d estimate it at well over twenty. These businesses vary in size and with varying dependence on other incomes, be it traditional farming or other crops such as flowers. The summer lavender season is very picturesque and many farms make a good income from tourism. They may host pop-up shops, weddings and other events in their fields.
If you’d like to find out more, we recommend the book below.
The Story of Lavender by Sally Festing 2009 ISBN 9781852151829.
Or if you have any comments on the history of lavender, do get in touch!