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Joseph Paxton: Garden pioneer

Summary

Soundings contributor Liz brings us the story of Joseph Paxton – a British gardener, architect and engineer…. and a classic ‘rags to riches’ story of Victorian times. He was best known for his innovative designs of greenhouses enabling exotic plants to be grown the UK, including bananas. His design was selected to house the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was known as The Crystal Palace.

Audio

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Life and work of Joseph Paxton – one of the leading garden designers of the Victorian era

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Author

  • Head and shoulders portrait of Liz Allan, TNF Soundings Contributor.

    Liz Macintyre Allan was born and brought up on the southside of Glasgow.
    She attended Scotland Street Primary School and later Glasgow University where she was awarded an Honours Degree in History and Comparative Religion. Liz stayed at home for several years while she raised her family and then decided to re-enter academic life as a mature student. After a happy career in education, Liz decided to take a different path....as a story teller. She found a collection of over 300 letters written by her father and describing his experiences during WW2. Liz transcribed his words and it became a successful book....Love Letters from a Desert Rat.

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