A celebration of orchids at Hatfield House (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

A celebration of orchids at Hatfield House

2:26pm Wednesday 8th April 2009 in

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St Albans’ claims to fame have been the source of much contention over the years, think Britain’s oldest pub and the inventor of the hot cross bun, but nobody can dispute that this unassuming Hertfordshire city was once home to the first, and indeed, only orchid grower by royal appointment, Sander’s of St Albans.

Sadly the once buzzing nursery, which covered a vast four-acre site known as The Camp and even had its own train station, ceased trading at the St Albans site in 1956, but the memories of the thriving industry still live on, and this Easter Hatfield House will pay tribute to the company with a unique exhibition to accompany its orchid celebration.

Speaking about his first memories of Sander’s as a 15-year-old boy, former employee Jim Wild fondly recalls: “I was fascinated by the place. It was a huge Victorian nursery and in the entrance there was a rockery with waterfalls and all the orchids were growing in the rock.

“There were green houses all around, and I was fascinated, so I applied to go there to work as a ‘lad’ and I got the job.”

At the time of Jim’s service, between 1951-56, David Sander was in charge, yet it was this young man’s grandfather who put the name Sander on the horticulture map.

Known as The Orchid King, German-born orchidologist Henry Frederick Conrad Sander was a passionate and, at times, ruthless businessman whose nursery became the main focus of orchid culture in Europe during 1880s and 1890s. His clients included the Duke of Devonshire, who would arrive in his own private train; the Conservative Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, who lived nearby at Hatfield House and, of course, Queen Victoria, who enjoyed watching the opera from the royal box Sander decorated with gold orchids.

At the height of his success, Frederick employed 23 collectors to scour Asia and South America looking for rare species, and Jim informs me that some of these expeditions even led to murder, with collectors stopping at nothing to bring back the prize blooms, which carried with them hefty price tags. For example, in 1904 a staggering £1,500 was paid for a single Odontoglossum Crispum Fred Sander plant (nowadays a similar plant would set you back just £15).

So keen was Frederick to document his favourite varieties that he spent a fortune printing a monumental publication that consisted of two series of two volumes each, with each book featuring between 48 to 55 beautfully crafted plates depicting life-sized orchids. The plates became instant collectors items and the St Albans Museum has kindly donated two plates it has in its possession for the exhibtion at Hatfield House.

But, of course, no celebration of orchids would be complete without the stars themselves, and award-winning garden centre Van Hage will be decorating the house with a range of stunning blooms, with some even as high as 5ft, while the Lee Valley Orchid Society will be showing their wares and be on hand to offer advice. And eager to dispel one common myth, secretary of the society, Jim Hill, tells me: “They are actually very cheap plants to grow because they last so long. The first orchids I bought were for my mother from Sander’s in 1956 and I still have one 40 years later.”

The Orchid Celebration runs from Saturday, April 11 to Monday, April 13. Details: 01707 287010 or www.hatfield-house.co.uk (entry is included in house price £5-£10). If you would like to contact Jim Wild, call him on 01727 845928