James Guttridge (Curator 1896 – 1906)
Summary
Another Kewite, he became the Curator after having spent some years at Glasgow Botanic Garden. He was also given the post of Deputy Superintendent of Parks and Gardens.
He came up with a great idea to extend the months over which the public were encouraged to visit, by growing many Chrysanthemums for an Autumn Show. This competition was shared with Sefton and Newsham Parks. A new propagating house was then built in 1897 as the Chrysanthemum House.
The outdoor area was enhanced in 1900 when a Hardy Fernery was erected, composed of tufa stone from Matlock Bath. Another experiment was tried in 1903 when a large Moss-clad wall was created in the Palm house.
Another way that Tyerman used to keep the Botanic Garden in the public’s mind was tried in 1906, when he offered 50,000 “Free Plants” after they had reached the end of their displaying season.
Guttridge was promoted in 1906 to the Chief Superintendent of the Parks Department, which he held for over 30 years. Under his guidance Liverpool became one of the leading Parks Departments in the UK.
Previous Experience
Guttridge was born in 1868 in Church Cobham Cottage in Cobham, Surrey and commenced his gardening career in the gardens of Burwood house also in Cobham. He gained further experience in several other private establishments before he tried to join Kew. They are listed as E. Grey of Fairlawn for 2 years, Countess Dow of Ellesmere for 4 years and C.J. Leaf of Pains Hill, Cobham for 6 months. This last employer was about to sell up, so Guttridge obtained a position at Wood Green Park, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire whilst he waited to get into Kew.
Kew had a very formal application process. You must be between 20 and 25 years old and have been employed for not less than 5 years in good private gardens or nurseries. Should there be no vacancy within 3 months of application, the application must be renewed, if employment at Kew was still desired. The wages were 18 shillings per week with extra pay for Sunday duty. Once they had had a satisfactory first year, they would be eligible, as vacancies arose, for the position of Sub-foreman and would be recommended for employment in other first-class gardens either at home, in India, or in the Colonies.
Kew
Kew’s records show that he applied four times from July 1887 to April 1888 and finally was successful on 11 June 1888, for a three-year term of service. His work had obviously been satisfactory as in July 1890 he become Sub-Foreman of the Tropical Propagating Department at Kew. The Kew archives show that he had been interviewed for a job with the Montserrat Company. Neither he nor the other Kew candidates were successful, as they wanted more experience in growing for market. The Sturge family, in 1869, established this Company on their lands in the Caribbean island of Montserrat and started the commercial production of lime juice, with more than 100,000 gallons produced annually by 1895.
He was so focused on his studies that while there he obtained certificates for Elementary Chemistry and Physics, Geographical Botany, Organography and Systematic Botany and Economic Botany. He also gained botanical certificates from the Science and Art department at South Kensington.
The Kew archives have a letter from Guttridge and 4 other sub-foremen writing to Kew’s Director, W.J. Thiselton Dyer in April 1891, regretting that he had not given them a pay rise and now asking for pay for a full day Sunday duty, rather than the current extra day’s leave arrangement.
He had had enough and by the end of that month he had obtained a post in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens! Kew’s records show that they gave him a “good testimonial”.
Ray Desmond’s Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturalists says he was the Curator of Glasgow Botanic Garden, but Daniel Dewar was in charge from 1893 until 1902?
After 6 years’ service at Glasgow, he was appointed Curator of the Botanic Gardens and Deputy Superintendent of the Public Parks and Gardens of Liverpool.
Liverpool
During the next 9 years, he filled the two positions so well that on the death of Henry Herbert he was promoted to be Superintendent of the Liverpool Parks and Gardens in October 1906, without the usual formality of competition.
He held this position for over 30 years, described as “the best known and most highly esteemed of the horticulturists occupying public positions in Lancashire, and his popularity was fully justified by his courtesy and commanding ability.”
The census has him living in the Curator’s house on Edge Lane, West Derby in 1901 with his wife Ellen, daughter Elsie, and sister Henrietta. When he became the Superintendent, he had to vacate this house for the next Curator. In 1911 he was residing in the Superintendents House on Ibbotsons Lane, Toxteth Park with his wife, two daughters, Elsie Ellen and Bertha Mary, a son, James Robert, and a servant, Dorothy Ann Hughes from Flintshire. He was still there in 1921.
He planned the development of the city's parks system, until it had enlarged threefold, and ranked as one of the leading Parks Departments in the country. His success in this area led to him being elected President of the Institute of Public Administration. This organisation’s mandate was to improve public administration through training, research, and the enhancement of professional practice. It was established in 1922 through the Society of Civil Servants with Viscount Haldane as the first President.
Under Guttridge the Gardens reflected their humanising science of horticulture more than botany. In 1930 he was awarded the distinction of Associate of Honour by the RHS. This was the first year of these awards and Guttridge received his in 1931 at the Great Spring Show (Chelsea).
An Associate of Honour may be awarded to persons of British nationality who have rendered distinguished service to the practice of horticulture during their working career. The Associate of Honour is held for life and the number of Associates may not exceed 100 at any one time.
He retired in 1936 and died on December 5th, 1952, in his 86th year and his obituary stated that he had “A pleasing personality with a fund of humour, he was greatly esteemed in all circles.”