Historical Background
Lea Gardens nestle in a south-west-facing slope, on the northern edge of the Amber valley, looking across to one of the 1,000-foot (305m) peaks of the Pennine chain.
Although this is an area Bordered by limestone, the village of Lea itself stands on millstone grit at a height of some 700 feet (213m) above sea-level. In the valley below, the river Derwent meanders, passing through Matlock and on towards Derby.
It was in the village of Lea that John Marsden-Smedley (1867-1959) spent much of his life. As well as being the local squire, he was the owner of John Smedley Ltd, a manufacturer of quality woollen garments. In 1895 he rebuilt the farm of Lea Green into the fine house, which is still used today as a residential and day centre for the local education authority. The gardens at Lea Green were typical for a house of that period, featuring high sheltered walls and hot houses for growing fruit and flowers. These early gardens reflected John Marsden-Smedleys great love of plants, and the local area still owes much of its wooded nature to his dedication to the planting of trees.
John Marsden-Smedley tried planting rhododendrons in various areas of his land, and remnants of these trials may still be seen in parts of his old woodland. These earliest trials yielded one ideal position with the much desired shelter for successfully establishing rhododendrons: the present site of Lea Gardens. In addition, the mature trees of scots pine, yew, sycamore, chestnut, oak and silver birch gave the wind protection and partial shade so essential for the plants.
In 1935, at the age of sixty-eight, John Marsden-Smedley was inspired by his visits to Bodnant and Exbury to build his own rhododendron garden on the site he had located behind his existing garden.
Skilled craftsmen from his estate used the abundant stone littering the area- originally an old quarry site dating back to Roman times- to fashion paths and verandas in the local style of dry stone walling. Soil was brought from other parts of his estate to top up beds of sand. In some cases ash was brought from the furnaces of his woollen mill to add to this topping-up process.
A collection of rhododendrons and azaleas was started, and records were kept showing plants to have come from leading growers and breeders of the 1930s. Knaphill, Exbury and Bodnant all feature in the early handwritten entries detailing plant-suppliers and varieties ordered. Efforts were made to establish less-hardy varieties and it was found that even those specimens supposed to survive only in West coastal regions could be grown in this sheltered quarry site.
During this period John Marsden-Smedley collected some 350 varieties of specie and hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas in a 2 acre site, which he developed before his death in 1959, at the age of 92.
His company of John Smedley Ltd thrives today providing fine knitwear for a worldwide market.
The estate was then divided and sold, and it was at this time that the gardens were acquired by Peter and Nancy Tye. They were joined a year later by Joyce Colyer who brought her expertise as the estate manager for John Marsden-Smedley together with an intimate knowledge of the gardens and there content.
Nancy Tye showed an artistic flair for the rockery and garden design, creating new alpine screes to compliment the existing rhododendron collection. Fresh areas of the garden were developed with the introduction of the new plants, rock screes, ornamental shrubs and trees, and in 1960 Peter, Nancy and Joyce opened the garden to the public. The house at Lea Gardens was a later addition, built in 1967.