History of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre and the site

The Family Business

Henry Evans founded H. Evans & Sons Ltd, of Longlands Nursery, Sidcup in 1876. In 1960 the business acquired Ruxley Manor Farm and renamed it Ruxley Manor Nursery. The name was again changed to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre with H. Evans & Sons Ltd remaining as the holding company, as it does to this day.

The Garden Centre started in April 1964 when Richard Evans, the current Managing Director, started selling seeds through the post. One Saturday a customer came up and asked if they could buy the seeds directly, Richard Evans agreed and the garden centre was formed. From those humble origins it has grown into what it is today. Ruxley Manor is still very much a family business and Andrew and James Evans are both fifth generation family members to be involved, something of which they are extremely proud.

One point of interest is that the rubber tree sitting in the middle of the indoor walkway was first a little tree in a pot. It was placed on the floor and forgotten about. However, the tree seeking water pushed its roots through the pot and through the gaps in the concrete and into the soil below. Since then it has flourished with the business and now acts as a constant reminder of our early beginnings.

The site of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre is steeped in history and here are some of the interesting facts:

St Botolph’s Church

St Botolph’s Church, at the top of the big car park is a Medieval Church built during the 13th century. It was actually deconsecrated in 1557 by Cardinal Pole and for over 400 years it was used as a barn and storehouse for farm equipment. However, even today it retains some of its original features. In the 1960’s some archaeological work discovered that the current church probably stands on the site of an even earlier timber building. Ruxley (or Rokesley) is mentioned in the Domesday and there may have been a Saxon church there for some time before the Conquest.

The Manor House

This dates from the 17th century with later additions, although some of the interior is probably 15th and 16th century. To the right of the house and now included in Mill House Landscapes garden is a large Mulberry Tree, which just about withstood the hurricane of October 1987. This tree dates back to between 1610 AD and 1615 AD, as part of James I’s attempt to encourage landowners to produce silk. Some trees supplied by the King were the wrong variety and could not support the life of a silkworm. This is one such tree.