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Henry Albiston - Curator of Boston Park
The obituary, in the Rotherham Advertiser,
on the death of Henry Albiston on 28th August 1908, illustrates
clearly his dedication to his duties as curator of Boston Park
and also his work in other gardens in England and reads as follows:-
We deeply regret to have to record
the death, which took place on Saturday evening, of Mr Henry Albiston,
curator of Boston Park, Rotherham, who has held the position over
thirty years and was in his 86th year. About six months ago Mr
Albiston suffered from an attack of influenza, which left him
weak and for about a fortnight, before his death he was gradually
sinking. The end came quite peacefully.
Mr Albiston was one of the oldest servants
of the Rotherham Corporation and he commenced his duties at Boston
Park at an age we would consider much too old for one entering
the municipal service.
Boston Park was ceremonially opened for the
use of the public of Rotherham on July 4th 1876. Two years ago,
on the anniversary of the interesting event, a representative
of the Advertiser had a chat with Mr Albiston, the substance of
which was printed at the time. Though then at the ripe age of
83 Mr Albiston continued his daily duties, often rising before
six o’ clock in the morning and seldom finishing until about
nine at night during the summer months.
Mr Albiston was born at Dalton, and his first
place as gardener was at Alwarke Hall, which does not now exist.
In the years that followed he held positions at Owston Park, near
Doncaster, The Woodlands, near Doncaster, at Arksey, at the York
Nurseries and in 1847 or 1848 he came to Rotherham, or rather
Masbro’, one of his first important professional tasks being
to lay out the grounds of Ferham House, the occupant of which
was then Lawyer Royle. After this he served at Car House and at
Oakwood Hall nearly ten years serving Mr James Yates. He there
had control of fifty two men and fourteen horses. He planted all
the large trees at Oakwood, and indeed Mr Albiston gained a high
reputation for that kind of work, becoming known as the “King
of tree-lifters”. He removed and replanted trees six hundred
years old, which are still living to testify his skill.
From Oakwood, Mr Albiston went to Cairnforth,
then occupied by George Brown and he was in this service at the
time he was appointed by the Corporation to lay out Boston Park.
It must not be forgotten that Boston Castle Hills at that time
were little more than a quarry hole. Large deposits of stone remain
yet and anyone examining the face of the stone will find traces
of fastenings where pent roofs were secured when cattle shelters
leaned against the rock. The land was acquired by the Corporation
for forty years at a rental of £50 a year. The magnificent
carpet bedding for which Boston Park is famous for miles around
was Mr Albiston’s favourite. During his long career as a
gardener, Mr Albiston acted as judge at many important horticultural
exhibitions in various parts of the country. Among many other
horticultural triumphs he achieved was the raising of two special
lobelias, which are known all over the country as “Rotherham
Park” and “Boston Castle”. He had gardening
friends and acquaintances on many large estates in the kingdom.
Mr Albiston was chiefly responsible for the arrangements of Clifton
Park, so far as the plants and shrubs are taken into account,
and performed similar services in connection with the Masbro Recreational
Ground and more recently the Corporation’s Isolation Hospital
grounds in Badsley Moor Lane.
THE FUNERAL
The remains of the late curator of Boston Park
were laid to rest on Wednesday in the Rotherham Cemetery adjoining
the ground he had tended so carefully for over thirty years. Among
those present were the Mayor of Rotherham, Dr G H Lodge, Ald A
Bryant (chairman of the parks committee) and other councillors
representing the Borough.
The grave was lined with broad ivy and asters
and several beautiful wreaths mostly from relatives were laid
on the coffin.
The coffin which was of pitch pine with brass
handles was carried from Boston Castle house, which is close to
the cemetery on the shoulders of men who had been under Mr Albiston’s
supervision on work in the park. The service was conducted by
Rev James Davies, curate at the Rotherham Parish Church.
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