‘Matchless Stoves’ : the pioneering garden technologies of Mary Somerset, the Duchess of Beaufort (1630–1715)

Cole, India ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6913-0095 (2026) ‘Matchless Stoves’ : the pioneering garden technologies of Mary Somerset, the Duchess of Beaufort (1630–1715). Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes. pp. 1-22. doi:10.1080/14601176.2026.2728636 (In Press)

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Abstract

This article consolidates and furthers research relating to seventeenth-century garden technologies, specifically structures for housing plants. Using archival materials, (including letters, architectural plans, and herbarium specimens) alongside an art-historical analysis of paintings of the Badminton estate, I demonstrate how Mary Somerset (1630–1715) was a forerunner in employing cutting-edge heated ‘stove-houses’, which enabled her to successfully grow a large collection of tender and tropical plants. Significantly, Somerset’s stove-houses rivalled those of the monarchs at Hampton Court. Furthermore, this article draws attention to the fact that women played a significant role in pioneering new ways of growing tropical plants.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Garden technologies; Female horticulture; Tropical plant collections; Badminton estate; Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV191.2 Outdoor Life. Outdoor recreation. S Agriculture > SB Plant culture
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Arts, Culture and Environment
Depositing User:	Rhiannon Goodland
Date Deposited:	06 Oct 2026 09:00
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2026 09:30
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16567

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