Biography William Speechly

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 @ welbeck abbey
1.3 later life

biography
early life

william speechly born near peterborough, northamptonshire, second son (baptised 25 february 1735) of ralph speechly, butcher , grazier of orton longueville, huntingdonshire, , wife sarah blackwell.

he said have had education , showed interest in horticulture, engraving sketches of fruit, flowers, , designs on copper plates.

speechly served apprenticeship gardener @ estate of william fitzwilliam, 4th earl fitzwilliam, @ milton abbey, northamptonshire. subsequently employed frederick howard, 5th earl of carlisle @ castle howard, north yorkshire , head gardener sir william st quintin, 4th baronet @ scampston hall, yorkshire. in 1767 became head gardener william henry cavendish-bentinck, 3rd duke of portland @ welbeck abbey in nottinghamshire.

at welbeck abbey

in 1771 bentinck sent speechly on tour of gardens in holland thought learned design of stoves hothouses, later improved on. in 1776 bentinck asked him write description of method of planting trees on nottinghamshire estates alexander hunter s edition of john evelyn s silva. later appeared article in hunter s georgical essays (1803), in speechly contributed note on possibility of raising pineapples.

speechly established first effective system cultivation of pineapples in england. particularly concerned should not kept @ hot temperature in winter , experimented forcing pineapples in beds of oak leaves instead of comparatively expensive , unpredictable tanner s bark. in 1779 published treatise on culture of pine apple.

this followed in 1790 treatise on culture of vine, described 50 species of grapes, , discussed hothouse culture, construction , management of vineyards in open air, pruning, irrigation, grafting, insect , blight control. work organised in 4 books: first presenting annotated list of 50 grape varieties, , discussing management of vine in hothouse; second on vinery , including observations on pruning , watering; third covering grafting, insect control, , remarks on age , size attained vines; , fourth on vineyards. both works republished in 1 volume in 1820.

in 1797 sir john sinclair, president of board of agriculture, asked speechly prepare sections on gardening , domestic rural economy comprehensive work on agriculture. project laid aside in 1798, , in 1800 speechly s manuscript returned him @ own request. began writing general treatise on gardening.

later life

in 1801 following death of younger son, speechly left welbeck abbey take on management of son s farm @ woodborough hall, nottinghamshire. succeeded pupil, joseph thompson, gardener late lord john cavendish, northamptonshire.

during time neglected manuscript on rural economy, on retirement king s newton hall, near melbourne, derbyshire, completed , enlarged it. work, devoted management of cottage gardens, published in 1820, several other essays appended, under title practical hints on domestic , rural economy.

he received honorary medal of board of agriculture essays on agriculture.

speechly died on 1 october 1819 aged 86 @ great milton, oxfordshire, while living surviving child sarah , husband john stevenson, surgeon.