Timelinec.1492
Christopher Columbus brought back many new plants from the Americas.
c.1514
Cardinal Wolsey buys Hampton Court and sets about improving it to impress Henry VIII.
c.1525
Henry VIII is so impressed with Hampton Court, he has Wolsey arrested and takes it for himself. Later Henry VIII began to develop Hampton Court to rival Fontainbleu in France. Work began on the Privy Garden, the Mount Garden and the Pond Garden in 1532.
c.1528
The renaissance garden at Chateau de Fontainebleau in France was started. The renaissance style, which included knot gardens and statues, was to have a huge influence on gardening throughout Europe.
1534
Henry VIII splits with Rome and dissolution of the monasteries begins. This dissolution destroys many of the established herbal gardens, orchards and vineyards that traditionally had been looked after by Roman Catholic monks.
1564
Aristocrat William Cecil buys the manor house Theobalds in Hertfordshire, and redesigns the gardens. The formal garden was modelled after Fontainebleau in France. John Gerard was the superintendent.
1597
John Gerard publishes his bestseller Herball, also known as a General Historie of Plants.
1611
Plant hunter John Tradescant the Elder establishes the gardens at Hatfield House.
1621
The first botanical garden is set up in Britain, The Oxford University Botanic Garden. The garden is founded by the Earl of Danby.
1629
John Parkinson publishes the book Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris. The book contains descriptions of more than 1,000 plants, featuring 800 illustrations.
1630
John Tradescant the Elder becomes head gardener to Charles I.
1638
Tradescant the Elder dies and his son becomes the new royal gardener.
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