Alice de Rothschild: Gardener

For Alice, gardening and the shaping of landscapes was a passion.

Alice was both a perfectionist and an innovator and was only in her late twenties when she created her first garden on land adjacent to the Waddesdon Estate at Eythrope. She went on to create a huge hillside garden at Villa Victoria in Grasse in the South of France and then in 1898 inherited the vast Waddesdon estate from her brother.

Different approaches to shaping landscape

The different topography, history and climates of each estate allowed Alice to explore different approaches to her shaping of the grounds. Rather than employing professional landscapers, Alice laid out her gardens herself, aided by her Head Gardeners. Contemporary horticultural writers visited all three gardens and described the formal, ‘artificial’ systems of gardening with the shaped beds and parterres which are characteristic of the Waddesdon gardens. They also noted the ‘natural systems’ and wild planting of naturalised species which were a dominant feature of the Villa Victoria garden. The ivy-clad ‘cottage’ and surrounding grounds at Eythrope have elements of both styles.

Farmer

Alice took great interest in the farming activities on the Waddesdon and Eythrope estates, especially animal husbandry. This
centred on the Home Farm and the Dairy.

Her standing as a farmer and stock-breeder was reflected in her election as President of the Royal Central Buckinghamshire Agricultural Association whose annual show she hosted twice in the park at Waddesdon.

Employer

Alice was a demanding employer and she expected the highest of standards. However, she was also caring and supportive, ensuring all of her employees’ vaccinations were up-to-date, for instance.

Her will contained numerous, generous legacies and annuities for staff members. All employees received a proportion of their wage and those closest to her were given substantial sums.

Gardener

Alice is not known to have employed a professional landscaper. We believe that she designed her gardens herself, working closely with the Head Gardeners in each place.

Alice had an excellent knowledge of plants and horticulture. Her cousin Constance recalled that she always carried a tool with her when outdoors, to remove offending weeds.