A Brief History
The 10.7 acres of south west facing hillside, on which the Pinetum stands, was once part of the Bayfordbury Estates in Hertfordshire, which were sold in 1755 to Sir William Baker, a prosperous City of London draper. From the first, the Baker family had a love of gardening and especially arboriculture. Their estates were soon planted with many fine trees.
According to the Estate Diary, the site was first planted with a group of ‘firs’ in 1767. Then in 1837, the year that Queen Victoria came to the throne, Sir William’s grandson, William Robert Baker, developed the site more formally. The word ‘Pinetum’ had come into being by this date. He planned it in collaboration with John Claudius Loudon, the famous landscape gardener, and laid it out taxonomically according to the Jusseius system.
In 1903, William Robert Baker’s grandson Henry succeeded to the estates and conducted a second major programme of planting, adding a further 60 species to the collection.
In 1945 the Bayfordbury Estates were sold off, with the Pinetum passing first to the John Innes Horticultural Institute, and then to Hertfordshire County Council. In 1992, the University became the current owner.
In 1994 the restoration of the Pinetum was started by Dr Edward Eastwood. The Association of the 'Friends of the Clinton-Baker Pinetum' was formed in 2000.
According to the Estate Diary, the site was first planted with a group of ‘firs’ in 1767. Then in 1837, the year that Queen Victoria came to the throne, Sir William’s grandson, William Robert Baker, developed the site more formally. The word ‘Pinetum’ had come into being by this date. He planned it in collaboration with John Claudius Loudon, the famous landscape gardener, and laid it out taxonomically according to the Jusseius system.
In 1903, William Robert Baker’s grandson Henry succeeded to the estates and conducted a second major programme of planting, adding a further 60 species to the collection.
In 1945 the Bayfordbury Estates were sold off, with the Pinetum passing first to the John Innes Horticultural Institute, and then to Hertfordshire County Council. In 1992, the University became the current owner.
In 1994 the restoration of the Pinetum was started by Dr Edward Eastwood. The Association of the 'Friends of the Clinton-Baker Pinetum' was formed in 2000.
A Chronological List of Important Events
Giant Redwood planted 1846
1757
Sir William Baker purchases the Bayfordbury Estates from the Caesar Family.
1759
The building of the new mansion is started.
1760
Sir William becomes Governor of the Hudson Bay Trading Company and receives his Knighthood. He thus begins to acquire links both east and west for the procurement of trees.
1763
The development of the surrounding Estate begins as a parkland landscape.
1765
Ten Cedars of Lebanon, nine years old, are planted around the mansion. The seedlings for this planting come from the famous Dr Uvedale’s Cedar at Enfield (planted c1667, felled 1928). A further three are added later from the same source. One, propagated from among these thirteen was then gifted to Myddelton House.
1767
The current site is first planted with a circular group of ‘firs’ (conifers), believed to be about 94 specimens strong with Scots Pine (endemic), Larch, (exotic from Europe) and Weymouth Pine (exotic from east USA), thought to have been the three most abundant species planted (cf Alan Mitchell). They were situated in a part of Salinger’s Field which is currently a Compartment known as ‘The Monkey Puzzle Dell’. The word Pinetum is not yet in the English language.
1770
Sir William dies and is succeeded by his son William.
1824
William Robert Baker, grandson of Sir William, succeeds to the Estates.
1837
William Robert Baker extends the Pinetum (the word is now in the language) to the shape of a letter ’D’, with its straight side running along the Bayford (or Kingfisher) Brook. Many new conifers being planted in groups according to the Jussieus system of classification and with the help of J. C. Loudon the famous landscape designer and author on sylvicultural matters.
1839
William Robert Baker marries Anna Emma Katherine Fynes-Clinton.
1840
The collection grows under William Robert Baker with plantings from such noted plant collectors as David Douglas and Karl. T. Hartweg.
1842
First formal use of trees in the Bayfordbury collection by Prideaux John Selby for his book ‘British Forest Trees’.
1848
The Pinetum is extended Northwest and Southeast, with an additional plot on the other bank of the Brook to total 4.2 hectares. The Grotto and Fernery are formed with a two-tier ‘Dripping Falls’ and associated water works. A hexagonal summerhouse is built within the Pinetum.
1865
An Estate Diary is compiled from previous records and is now more formally maintained by Lady Clinton-Baker. Retrospectively, the pre-1837 entries use the word ‘Pinetum’ although no such word existed in until 1837.
1903
Henry William Clinton-Baker, grandson of William Robert Baker, succeeds to the estates and makes extensive additions helped by his brother Admiral Sir Lewis Clinton-Baker and by A. B. Jackson.
1909
Henry Clinton-Baker publishes the first three volumes of his ‘Illustrations of Conifers’.
1924
A fourth volume ‘Illustrations of New Conifers’ is published in collaboration with Jackson.
1935
Henry Clinton-Baker dies.
1945
Ownership of the Estate passes to the John Innes Horticultural Institute.
1957
Alan Mitchell, the celebrated sylviculturist visits the Pinetum. Some new trees are planted.
1967
Hertfordshire County Council buys the estate, to be used by the then Hatfield College of Technology and others.
1975
Alan Mitchell makes his last visit; further trees are planted on his advice.
1987
The site is listed in the ‘Register of Historic Parks and Gardens’ as Grade II*, indicating that it is of exceptional historic interest.
1987- 90
The Pinetum is devastated by The Great Gales, reducing the species count to about 45.
1995
A ‘New Initiative’ to restore the Pinetum is launched under the aegis of the Department of Environmental Sciences of the now University of Hertfordshire on a ‘Voluntary Labour - Gifted Capital” basis.
1996
Considerable help with Management Planning is received from the ‘National Conifer Collection’ at Bedgebury in Kent, and Unilever’s Wrest Park at Silsoe.
1997
Kew Gardens presents the Pinetum with four particular conifers of known provenance.
1998
The Worshipful Livery Company of Carpenters makes a most generous donation of £60,000 towards the restoration initiative as their specific millennium project.
1999
A Friends’ Association of the Clinton-Baker Pinetum is formally started at a Founders’ Meeting.
2000
The ‘Restoration Initiative’ proceeds apace both in terms of the site and activities ancillary to it.
2005
The International Conifer Conservation Organisation of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh deems the Pinetum to be a ‘safe site’ and donates a first 12 rare conifers into our care.
2006
A two-day international symposium is held in conjunction with ‘Plantnetwork’ on the subject of “Data Capture and Dissemination for Gardens and Arboreta”.
2007
The Friends’ Association passes 100 members. The specimen count of different conifers passes 140.
2008
One of the Giant Redwoods is struck by lightening and loses 30 foot from its top. The Pinetum participates for a first time in the Red Cross Open Gardens Day Scheme.
2009
The Curator, Edward Eastwood is awarded a Fellowship of the University of Hertfordshire and is made a Member of its University Court. A new venture, in the form of an art class, specifically associated with the Pinetum, is successfully trialled and becomes a popular event.
2010
The Membership and the number of species both exceed 170.
The Pinetum again participates in the Red Cross Open Gardens Day.
2011
The Worshipful Livery Company of Carpenters makes a further generous grant of £30,000 towards our Restoration Venture.
2012
The Worshipful Livery Company of Carpenters makes a last formal visit in July marking the end of their formal ‘millennium’ support for the Restoration of the Pinetum. However on this occasion, The Company announces a last additional gift of £6,000 towards the making of a Promotional Video to mark and show the success of the Venture. Another successful open day is held in conjunction with the Red Cross.
2013
The membership of the Friends Association passes 225.
2014
The Promotional Video of the Pinetum Venture is completed.
Yet another successful open day is held in conjunction with the Red Cross.
The development of the Leat was begun by an excavation of the channel, the addition of a butyl rubber lining such that it now holds water, and the commencement of rockwork along the two banks.
Sir William Baker purchases the Bayfordbury Estates from the Caesar Family.
1759
The building of the new mansion is started.
1760
Sir William becomes Governor of the Hudson Bay Trading Company and receives his Knighthood. He thus begins to acquire links both east and west for the procurement of trees.
1763
The development of the surrounding Estate begins as a parkland landscape.
1765
Ten Cedars of Lebanon, nine years old, are planted around the mansion. The seedlings for this planting come from the famous Dr Uvedale’s Cedar at Enfield (planted c1667, felled 1928). A further three are added later from the same source. One, propagated from among these thirteen was then gifted to Myddelton House.
1767
The current site is first planted with a circular group of ‘firs’ (conifers), believed to be about 94 specimens strong with Scots Pine (endemic), Larch, (exotic from Europe) and Weymouth Pine (exotic from east USA), thought to have been the three most abundant species planted (cf Alan Mitchell). They were situated in a part of Salinger’s Field which is currently a Compartment known as ‘The Monkey Puzzle Dell’. The word Pinetum is not yet in the English language.
1770
Sir William dies and is succeeded by his son William.
1824
William Robert Baker, grandson of Sir William, succeeds to the Estates.
1837
William Robert Baker extends the Pinetum (the word is now in the language) to the shape of a letter ’D’, with its straight side running along the Bayford (or Kingfisher) Brook. Many new conifers being planted in groups according to the Jussieus system of classification and with the help of J. C. Loudon the famous landscape designer and author on sylvicultural matters.
1839
William Robert Baker marries Anna Emma Katherine Fynes-Clinton.
1840
The collection grows under William Robert Baker with plantings from such noted plant collectors as David Douglas and Karl. T. Hartweg.
1842
First formal use of trees in the Bayfordbury collection by Prideaux John Selby for his book ‘British Forest Trees’.
1848
The Pinetum is extended Northwest and Southeast, with an additional plot on the other bank of the Brook to total 4.2 hectares. The Grotto and Fernery are formed with a two-tier ‘Dripping Falls’ and associated water works. A hexagonal summerhouse is built within the Pinetum.
1865
An Estate Diary is compiled from previous records and is now more formally maintained by Lady Clinton-Baker. Retrospectively, the pre-1837 entries use the word ‘Pinetum’ although no such word existed in until 1837.
1903
Henry William Clinton-Baker, grandson of William Robert Baker, succeeds to the estates and makes extensive additions helped by his brother Admiral Sir Lewis Clinton-Baker and by A. B. Jackson.
1909
Henry Clinton-Baker publishes the first three volumes of his ‘Illustrations of Conifers’.
1924
A fourth volume ‘Illustrations of New Conifers’ is published in collaboration with Jackson.
1935
Henry Clinton-Baker dies.
1945
Ownership of the Estate passes to the John Innes Horticultural Institute.
1957
Alan Mitchell, the celebrated sylviculturist visits the Pinetum. Some new trees are planted.
1967
Hertfordshire County Council buys the estate, to be used by the then Hatfield College of Technology and others.
1975
Alan Mitchell makes his last visit; further trees are planted on his advice.
1987
The site is listed in the ‘Register of Historic Parks and Gardens’ as Grade II*, indicating that it is of exceptional historic interest.
1987- 90
The Pinetum is devastated by The Great Gales, reducing the species count to about 45.
1995
A ‘New Initiative’ to restore the Pinetum is launched under the aegis of the Department of Environmental Sciences of the now University of Hertfordshire on a ‘Voluntary Labour - Gifted Capital” basis.
1996
Considerable help with Management Planning is received from the ‘National Conifer Collection’ at Bedgebury in Kent, and Unilever’s Wrest Park at Silsoe.
1997
Kew Gardens presents the Pinetum with four particular conifers of known provenance.
1998
The Worshipful Livery Company of Carpenters makes a most generous donation of £60,000 towards the restoration initiative as their specific millennium project.
1999
A Friends’ Association of the Clinton-Baker Pinetum is formally started at a Founders’ Meeting.
2000
The ‘Restoration Initiative’ proceeds apace both in terms of the site and activities ancillary to it.
2005
The International Conifer Conservation Organisation of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh deems the Pinetum to be a ‘safe site’ and donates a first 12 rare conifers into our care.
2006
A two-day international symposium is held in conjunction with ‘Plantnetwork’ on the subject of “Data Capture and Dissemination for Gardens and Arboreta”.
2007
The Friends’ Association passes 100 members. The specimen count of different conifers passes 140.
2008
One of the Giant Redwoods is struck by lightening and loses 30 foot from its top. The Pinetum participates for a first time in the Red Cross Open Gardens Day Scheme.
2009
The Curator, Edward Eastwood is awarded a Fellowship of the University of Hertfordshire and is made a Member of its University Court. A new venture, in the form of an art class, specifically associated with the Pinetum, is successfully trialled and becomes a popular event.
2010
The Membership and the number of species both exceed 170.
The Pinetum again participates in the Red Cross Open Gardens Day.
2011
The Worshipful Livery Company of Carpenters makes a further generous grant of £30,000 towards our Restoration Venture.
2012
The Worshipful Livery Company of Carpenters makes a last formal visit in July marking the end of their formal ‘millennium’ support for the Restoration of the Pinetum. However on this occasion, The Company announces a last additional gift of £6,000 towards the making of a Promotional Video to mark and show the success of the Venture. Another successful open day is held in conjunction with the Red Cross.
2013
The membership of the Friends Association passes 225.
2014
The Promotional Video of the Pinetum Venture is completed.
Yet another successful open day is held in conjunction with the Red Cross.
The development of the Leat was begun by an excavation of the channel, the addition of a butyl rubber lining such that it now holds water, and the commencement of rockwork along the two banks.