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 both in the UK and abroad 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. She recently lectured for Art Pursuits Abroad on 'The 18th Century English Landscape Garden'. 
Deborah has published articles in magazines and periodicals and is available for television and radio interviews. 

Homes & Gardens The Walled Garden at Brent Eleigh
Homes & Gardens The Swiss Garden
BBC Radio 4's Making History
Channel 5 Inside Kensington Palace TX 16th April 2018.  

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