Brenda Colvin
Encyclopedia
Brenda Colvin CBE
(1897—1981) was an important British landscape architect
, author of standard works in the field and a force behind its professionalisation. She was part of the Colvin family
, which had long ties to the British Raj
. She was born in India
where her father, Sir Elliot Graham Colvin, was a senior administrator in Kashmir
and Rajputana
. (His father, John Russell Colvin
(1807 – 1857), was lieutenant-governor of the North-West Provinces during the Indian Mutiny, at the height of which he died.)
Colvin received her training in garden design
from Madeline Agar at Swanley College (now Hadlow College
, which continues to teach University of Greenwich
courses in the subject). Agar and Colvin worked together on Wimbledon Common. Colvin set up her own practice in 1922; not until 1969 was she joined by Hal Moggridge as partner; the firm continues under their joint names.
Colvin co-founded the Institute of Landscape Architects in 1929 (later the Landscape Institute
), and became its president in 1951. She wrote Land and Landscape (1947, revised 1970). Colvin shared an office with Sylvia Crowe
, later also president of the ILA (1957–1959).
Colvin designed many gardens, e.g. with the socialite Norah Lindsay
at the Manor House in Sutton Courtenay, and at Burwarton
. She also worked on industrial landscaping, e.g. around power stations, and the University of East Anglia
. Her own garden was at Filkins in the Cotswolds
in Gloucestershire
, now the office of Colvin and Moggridge. Sometimes the company opens it via the National Gardens Scheme
.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(1897—1981) was an important British landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
, author of standard works in the field and a force behind its professionalisation. She was part of the Colvin family
Colvin family
The Colvin family, for the purposes of this article, are that group of people descended from James Colvin , a merchant trading between London and Calcutta during the East India Company. This Anglo-Indian family was intimately involved with the British Raj, first as traders and then as...
, which had long ties to the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. She was born in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
where her father, Sir Elliot Graham Colvin, was a senior administrator in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
and Rajputana
Rajputana
Rājputāna was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. George Thomas was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana...
. (His father, John Russell Colvin
John Russell Colvin
John Russell Colvin, Esq. was a British civil servant in India, part of the illustrious Anglo-Indian Colvin family. He was lieutenant-governor of the North-West Provinces of British India during the mutiny of 1857, at the height of which he died.-Life:Colvin's was an Anglo-Indian family of...
(1807 – 1857), was lieutenant-governor of the North-West Provinces during the Indian Mutiny, at the height of which he died.)
Colvin received her training in garden design
Garden design
Garden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expertise...
from Madeline Agar at Swanley College (now Hadlow College
Hadlow College
Hadlow College, located at Hadlow in Kent with satellite sites in Canterbury and London, is a Further Education and Higher Education college. The curriculum primarily covers land-based subjects including agriculture, conservation and wildlife management, animal management, fisheries management,...
, which continues to teach University of Greenwich
University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...
courses in the subject). Agar and Colvin worked together on Wimbledon Common. Colvin set up her own practice in 1922; not until 1969 was she joined by Hal Moggridge as partner; the firm continues under their joint names.
Colvin co-founded the Institute of Landscape Architects in 1929 (later the Landscape Institute
Landscape Institute
The Landscape Institute is a British professional body for landscape architects. Founded in 1929 as the Institute of Landscape Architects, it was granted a Royal Charter in 1997. The Institute aims to promote landscape architecture, and to regulate the profession with a code of conduct that...
), and became its president in 1951. She wrote Land and Landscape (1947, revised 1970). Colvin shared an office with Sylvia Crowe
Sylvia Crowe
Dame Sylvia Crowe, DBE was a British landscape architect and garden designer.Born in Sussex, and trained under Madeline Agar at Swanley College .She was President of the Institute of Landscape Architects from 1957 to 1959...
, later also president of the ILA (1957–1959).
Colvin designed many gardens, e.g. with the socialite Norah Lindsay
Norah Lindsay
Norah Lindsay was a socialite garden designer who between the World wars became a major influence on garden design and planting in the United Kingdom and on the Continent.- Biography :...
at the Manor House in Sutton Courtenay, and at Burwarton
Burwarton
Burwarton is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England....
. She also worked on industrial landscaping, e.g. around power stations, and the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
. Her own garden was at Filkins in the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, now the office of Colvin and Moggridge. Sometimes the company opens it via the National Gardens Scheme
National Gardens Scheme
The National Gardens Scheme, was founded in 1927 in England with the aim of "opening gardens of quality, character and interest to the public for charity". Originally, the money was raised to provide pension support for district nurses; 609 private gardens were opened and £8,191 was raised.Over...
.
Further reading
- Gibson, Trish. Brenda Colvin: A Career in Landscape