An Early Gardener's Apprenticeship (continued). (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Friday, July 26, 2013, 02:09 (4141 days ago) @ Jefff

So it's clear that gardeners, at least in the "grand" sense, were indeed subject to formal apprenticeship training and their subsequent careers could follow strictly regimented lines, as shown on this site;

"GARDENING HIERARCHY

There was a strict pecking order particularly on larger estates with the Head Gardener being at the top of the chain. A typical hierarchy could be as follows:

HEAD GARDENER/ FOREMAN GARDENER / JOURNEYMAN OR UNDER GARDENER / APPRENTICE

The 1871 census showed a small estate such as Wortley employing a Head Gardener, Foreman Gardener and 3 Under Gardeners. There is no mention of an apprentice in the census.

WAGES OF GARDENING STAFF
The ‘going rate’ around 1870 for gardening staff was as follows:
HEAD GARDENER approx £100 per year
SKILLED JOURNEYMAN approx £36 per year
APPRENTICE approx £20 per year

Joseph Paxton at Chatsworth House was thought to be earning approximately £500 per year, but this included extra duties as the Estate Manager besides his main role as Head Gardener.
THERE COULD BE WIDE VARIATIONS ON THESE RATES, OBVIOUSLY DEPENDING ON THE BENEVOLENCE OF THE EMPLOYER."

Wortley Hall Walled Garden is near Barnsley, Yorkshire.
https://sites.google.com/site/wortleywalledgarden/Home/history/the-life-and-times-of-wo...