About us

The Garden Historians were established in 2013 to address the lack of teaching in garden history  and to promote the study of the subject more broadly.

We enjoyed immediate success at Burgh House and  increased our courses to two sessions per week. During the summer term we teach class based sessions and site visits. Burgh House has also provided a venue for a varied range of introductory sessions for new students and we plan a further range of lectures and study days in the future. Our courses will continue to evolve in theme and content allowing students from previous years to continue their study, whilst encouraging new students to join us. 

Our sessions are informal and involve no course work and require no previous knowledge of garden history. Free introductory sessions are held every September with dates to be announced on our courses page nearer the time.  This academic year, from September 2017, we will be joined by occasional visiting experts and lecturers including garden historian and classical archaeologist, Michael Turner and in January 2018 the garden historian and author, Helena Attlee.  

We also conduct historic garden tours and are available for private hire by request. If you would like to plan a private garden tour for a group of friends or have any other enquires regarding our site please use our contact page. 

Trained in the history of art, architecture and garden history. She has been teaching garden history for fifteen years. Formerly a teacher of garden history at Birbeck (University of London) and Capel Manor College where she also taught the history of architecture. She currently teaches garden design students for KLC School of Design at Chelsea Harbour and Hampton Court Palace. Deborah is in her fourth year as the Historic Gardens judge for the Society of Garden Designers Awards. In 2018 she will be lecturing for Art Pursuits Abroad on 'More Capability Brown -West Country Gardens' Tour and 'The 18th Century English Landscape Garden' running 13th-27th March. 

Deborah writes articles for magazines and periodicals:

Homes & Gardens The Walled Garden at Brent Eleigh

Homes & Gardens The Swiss Garden

Listen to Deborah on BBC Radio 4's Making History

If you would like any further information or have any special requests for lectures or tours please contact us here