An extensive collection of sub-tropical plants
Morrab Gardens’ extensive collection of sub-tropical plants have been accumulated over many years. In the 1880s, unlike today there were no nurseries selling exotic plants, the original planting was the result of gifts from local estates. Contributors to the gardens included the Bolitho family of Trengwainton, the Williams’ at Trewidden, the Dorrien-Smiths at Tresco and Canon Boscawen, rector of Ludgvan.
Original design (still evident today)
Morrab House with its walled garden was built in 1841 by wealthy brewer, Samuel Pidwell. Later in the century, Charles Campbell Ross, MP for St Ives and four times mayor of Penzance, purchased the villa where he lived until the 1880s. By the late nineteenth century, Penzance had become a popular seaside resort and required a park for visitors’ recreation. To this end, Penzance Corporation acquired the property at auction in 1888 for £3,120.
The villa was leased by Penzance Private Library (now The Morrab Library), and Penzance Borough held a competition to design a public park. London designer, Reginald Upcher won the prize of 20 guineas with his plan for the three acre site. The original design, which included a bandstand and sub-tropical gardens divided by a series of curvilinear walks, is still much in evidence today. A copy of the plans can be viewed in The Morrab Library.
The Gardens today
Garden features
- The cast iron fountain – an elaborate design consisting of a pedestal with dolphins and cherubs riding tortoises. Water was originally sourced from a natural spring above Causewayhead.
- The cast iron bandstand – built in 1905 with money donated by local coal merchant JH Bennetts. It was extensively renovated in 2004.
- The Boer War Memorial statue – erected in 1904 to commemorate those who gave their lives in the South African campaign and which was fully restored in 2002.
- The Morrab Library – the house (Morrab House) built by a wealthy brewer of which Morrab Gardens were the original grounds. The Morrab Library is an independent library established in 1818 and holds over 70,000 books on floor-to-ceiling shelves as well as archives and a rich photographic collection in the rambling rooms of the delightful Victorian building.
- The Gardeners’ House – previously the stable block for the original house, The Gardeners’ House was renovated in 2025 and is now a community hub celebrating the unique stories of West Cornwall with a delightful sensory garden.
When the park opened in 1889, the Gardeners’ Chronicle wrote: “One of its features is a Palm-grove, where tourists may fancy themselves in the tropics or on Mediterranean shores”. The study of acclimatisation of rare sub-tropical plants was a significant role for the gardens, a tradition which continues to this day.
visit and enjoy the sub-tropical garden…!
image sources: (click to expand)
- the fountain: Image by Peter Crumpler, used with permission
- historic photograph Morrab Gardens c. 1909: Copyright undetermined, Image courtesy of University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, ID: JV-64660
- historic photograph Morrab Gardens bandstand: Image courtesy of University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, ID: JV-4849
- The fountain in Morrab Gardens reflected in its pool: Image by Tony Mills, used with permission
- The Palm Walk in Morrab Gardens: Image by Tony Mills, used with permission