´óÏó´«Ã½

Chris Beardshaw's Lawn Mower

Contributed by Gardeners Question Time

Chris Beardshaw's Lawn Mower

Image 1Ìý´Ç´ÚÌý2

My object is responsible for shaping the very concept of the English garden. Developed by a curious inventor who lived just down the valley from my home in the Cotswolds; engineer Edward Beard Budding spotted the potential invention while watching a cylinder of blades trimming the cloth of fabric destined for soldiers' uniforms in 1827.

Ridiculed by local engineers, Budding apparently tested his invention at night. Eventually emerging with the patent application that read "Country gentleman may find in using my machine themselves an amusing, useful and healthy exercise." The Lawnmower was born, changing the aesthetics, design and quality of our gardens. As scythes and grazing were abandoned, refined turf became the horticultural sorbet between bountiful, floriferous borders and exotic plantations. Without exaggeration it is possibly the most defining tool in the creation of an iconic gardening style.

Comments are closed for this object

Share this link:

Most of the content on A History of the World is created by the contributors, who are the museums and members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ or the British Museum. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site’s House Rules please Flag This Object.

About this object

Click a button to explore other objects in the timeline

Location
Culture
Period
Theme
Size
Colour
Material

View more objects from people in London.

Find out more

Podcast

´óÏó´«Ã½ iD

´óÏó´«Ã½ navigation

´óÏó´«Ã½ © 2014 The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.