Guildford Museum Shares Jekyll’s Boots with British Library for New Exhibition

Published on: 25 May, 2025
Updated on: 28 May, 2025

Gertrude Jekyll’s gardening boots

A special object from the Guildford Museum collection is on display in a new exhibition at the British Library in London.

A pair of boots owned by Gertrude Jekyll, one of the 20th century’s most influential garden designers, are featured in ‘Unearthed: The Power of Gardening’ exhibition.

Cllr Catherine Houston

Catherine Houston, lead councillor for Commercial Services, says: “We’re pleased to share this important item with the British Library and visitors to their exciting exhibition this summer.

Gertrude Jekyll created over 400 gardens in the UK, Europe and US, and would have worn these gardening boots as she worked on her inspiring designs.

“Guildford Museum is home to a selection of artefacts associated with Gertrude’s life and work, including a beautiful sketchbook filled with drawings created when she was only 12 years old. We also display many traditional ‘Old Surrey’ household items and objects donated by Gertrude herself to Surrey Archaeological Society in 1907.”

Gertrude Jekyll’s sketchbook, part of the collection at Guildford Museum

Gertrude Jekyll lived in Surrey for most of her life, growing up in Bramley and later moving to Munstead Wood, just south of Godalming. In addition to garden design, Gertrude was a horticulturist, writer, photographer, artist and craftswoman.

Jekyll’s flower border at Munstead Wood which became so influential in garden design.

Maddy Smith, lead curator of at the British Library, says: “Gertrude Jekyll transformed people’s expectations about what a garden should be, and we are so pleased to have borrowed the gardening boots she wore for over forty years from Guildford Museum for our ‘Unearthed’ exhibition.

Munstead Wood border – short video

“Drawing on her background as an artist, Jekyll focused on the colour, texture and habits of individual plants and her gardens were designed to be colourful and interesting throughout the year.

Portrait of Jekyll by William Nicholson, painted October 1920; commissioned by Edwin Lutyens

“We hope visitors enjoy seeing Jekyll’s boots alongside a rich array of contemporary materials, historic manuscripts, artefacts, and artworks to discover the transformative, enriching, and at times radical power of gardening in Britain.”

‘Unearthed: The Power of Gardening’ is open at the British Library until Sunday 10 August. Visit the British Library website for more information and to book tickets.

Munstead Wood was acquired by the National Trust in 2023 and it is intended it will be open to the public although no timetable has been announced.