Harlaxton Manor - Frank Vinden, Head Gardener, 1897-1939

Collection of photographs donated as scans, relating to Harlaxton Manor Gardens and the Vinden Family [on Manor Research Drive; internal access only]

• gar_2_1 Copies of Original Photos of Harlaxton Manor
• gar_2_2 Frank Vinden's Drawings from a Drawing Book
• gar_2_3 Members of Harlaxton Manor Staff and Family
• gar_2_4 Open Day photographs late 1980's (H. Skelton)
• gar_2_5 Photos from the 1990's (H. Skelton)
• gar_2_6 Photos, June 2013 (H. Skelton)
• gar_2_7 Vinden family information

Thomas Vinden (1829-1897) became Head Gardener at Harlaxton Manor in 1860s. He married Catherine Dive (d.1859) and had one son, Frederick (who died in 1858) and then married Harriet Parton (1832-1907). Thomas and Harriet had six children: Elizabeth (1861-1927), twins: William (1863/4-1928), Henry (1863/4-Oct 1915), John Frank (1866-March 1942) and Sarah (1869-1931). The 1861 census shows Thomas Vinden as being a gardener in Bramcote, Notts. By the 1871 census, Thomas and family were resident at Harlaxton Manor where he was Head Gardener until he died in 1897.

The 1911 census shows the Gardener's House, Harlaxton Manor as being home to Frank Vinden age 45, Head Gardener, single; James Vigor age 23, assistant; Henry Vinden age 47, Gardener; and Emily Amy Vinden nee Eaton (wife of Henry and Housekeeper for Frank) age 33 (1878-1958). Emily and Henry Vinden had one daughter, Vera.

Vera Vinden's childhood was spent in the Gardeners house. She went to school in Harlaxton. Her Grandfather on her mother's side, William Eaton, was the Coachman who lived in the Gatehouse in the Manor grounds with her blind Grandmother, Sarah.

This collection of scans from original photographs of the garden and Vinden family was donated by Vera's daughter, Hazel.

By appointment only

Donated in 2013 by Hazel Skelton, daughter of Vera Vinden

Added by Linda Dawes, College Librarian, Sept 2017

With permission of donor only

See pages 69-74, Harlaxton Manor guidebook (2015)