Herb garden history

Herb garden history

In the Middle Ages people used many plants and herbs in their daily life. Herbs were used to flavour food and it was commonly known that a large number of plants contained healing properties.

Most UK herbs have been cultivated in this country since Roman times. Medieval people created special gardens dedicated to the growing of useful plants.

These gardens were often "raised' up from the ground to help drainage and make harvesting plants easier. The beds were elevated using low walls of brickwork or timber to create a huge container for the soil. A very attractive raised bed design made use of low "walls' made of wickerwork or woven osiers filled with well-conditioned soil.

Raised beds made an ideal home for many species of plant because the soil was extremely well drained – excess water simply ran out the sides.

Medieval herb gardens were usually created in open, sunny areas. High garden walls or robust fencing was used to protect the more delicate plants (and the gardener) from inclement weather and provide shade where required.

Herbs are at their best in warm still air. Medieval monks knew that precious moisture is retained longer when wind is prevented from drying the ground. The added benefit of such enclosure was the aromatic scent captured in the garden on a still summer evening.

There is no definitive record of the plants grown in medieval herb gardens. Surviving records are conflicting and their accuracy uncertain. The effort required to tend a garden makes it probable that each cultivated plant would have a tangible purpose when harvested.

We have gathered a list of plants out. that may have been grown in a Medieval herb garden along with their Latin names and likely uses.