New Research on Marnock in Sussex

A timely article comes out in the July edition of the Garden Trust’s Garden History journal, on Marnock’s work at Alexandra Park in Sussex. Written by Marnock expert Dr Jan Woudstra, the article is called ‘Robert Marnock’s Retirement Project: Alexandra Park, Hastings, 1876–82, “Superior To Any Park In Any Other Seaside Resort.”’

Part of the article in the summer 2023 edition of Garden History. The image from the Illustrated London News is now in the public domain.

As Jan explains, ‘Alexandra Park in Hastings, East Sussex, is one of the very largest parks in a seaside location and has been considered not only “superior to any park in any other seaside resort” but also one of "the most beautiful parks” in the country. It is thus clear that the general quality of Alexandra Park has long been acknowledged, as has the involvement of Robert Marnock (1800–89) as landscape gardener. While this has been explored and indeed is celebrated locally, it has thus far escaped academic scrutiny and has been insufficiently contextualized with respect to the politics of the Public Parks Movement, the design process and implementation, leaving a considerable knowledge gap.

‘This article fills this gap and makes this chapter of the history of public parks more widely known. It also elucidates a thus far hidden chapter of Marnock’s life, and further informs our understanding of contemporary landscape practice.’

Alexandra Park today. Photograph (c) Philip Masters.

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