Researched and written by Marion Mako, a garden and landscape historian who graduated from the University’s MA programme in Garden History, The University of Bristol Historic Gardens is an extensively illustrated survey of nine gardens and their features, including an Iron Age hill fort at Burwalls, an exotic grotto at Goldney Gardens, and the remains of fortifications at the Royal Fort that date back to the English Civil War.

Timothy Mowl, Professor of History of Architecture and Designed Landscapes at Bristol and Chair of the University's Historic Buildings and Gardens Committee, explains in his introduction that the striking range of historic gardens, not to mention buildings, is almost entirely the result of ‘past bequests rather than purchases, most notably by the University’s great benefactors, the Wills family’.

The University of Bristol Historic Gardens costs £5 and is available from:

Administration Office
University Gardens and Grounds
Waltham Cottage Yard
Hollybush Lane
Stoke Bishop
Bristol BS9 1JB

Email enquiries can be sent to: nicolette.smith@bristol.ac.uk.

Proceeds from the sale of the book will support the continuing conservation and restoration of the gardens.