Sarah Rutherford will look at the two enigmatic Georgian grottoes at royal Virginia Water, Surrey. She will explain what misfortune led renowned C18 artist and architect Thomas Sandby to be nicknamed ‘Tommy Sandbank’ in his efforts to enlarge the royal lake at Virginia Water. This became by the 1790s the largest man-made lake in Britain, with a spectacular cascade and grotto. Illustrating the colourful grotto design drawings by Thomas Sandby scattered in the Bodleian Library, Royal Collection and V&A, Sarah will tell the story of these regal grottoes and reveal an exciting new attribution for a nearby Grade I grotto, based on an obscure drawing by Sandby.

Speaker: Dr. Sarah Rutherford is a Kew-trained gardener who has spent her career working with historic parks and gardens. Since being Head of the Parks and Gardens Register for English Heritage, for over twenty years she has run her own consultancy researching and preparing conservation plans for historic parks and gardens, and written books on garden history. Her book on Georgian Grottoes is due for publication in 2027-28.

Please join us for lunch to celebrate the Trust’s achievements during the year and plans for the future. We will be offering a buffet lunch with wine and other refreshments. Please note that booking is essential for catering purposes.

We will also be hosting a raffle to raise funds to support the Trust’s many projects and outreach programmes such as the Schools Awards, Gateway and Small Grants. In addition, we will be selling our own SGT publications as well as second-hand gardening related books.

Please note that AGM papers will be sent out via email (or post to those members without email addresses) mid-November.

We look forward to welcoming you and celebrating the Trust’s many achievements throughout the year.

Image Credit: Thomas Sandby - The First Grotto, Virginia Water, 1754 - Yale Center for British Art - B1975.4.1390.

SGT Members: £33pp
Guests: £35pp
includes talk, refreshments and buffet lunch