History
Fisher, Son & Sibray and Handsworth Nurseries
The Royal Nurseries of Fisher Son & Sibray, at Handsworth, near Sheffield became known for their cultivation of Hollies.
The nurseries founded about 1743 by John Littlewood (d.1825) and were referred to in 1775 as Littlewood Fisher and Sibray.
In May 1794, a lease was granted for 21 years to John Littlewood, nurseryman, of Handsworth for property in Handsworth and Rotherham parishes at a rent £55 two boon work days.
In 1825, the business was referred to as Fisher and Holmes with Charles and James Fisher and Edward Holmes. Listed in the same directory was a George Sibray, assistant overseer, registrar and Parish Clerk.
By 1833 the nursery was referred to as Fisher, Holmes, Foster, and Holmes, Nursery & seedsmen with George Fisher, Nurseryman James Foster, Nurseryman; Edward & John Holmes, Nurserymen.
In 1871 the Holmes family were running Whittington Nursery. John Holmes now aged 73 had retired and was at Whittington Hill.
In a newspaper extract of August 1864, which gives details of the murder of one of their gardeners, John Cooper,they are recorded as Messrs. Fisher and Holmes of Handsworth.
Wilson
John H. Wilson F.H.R.S. Nurseryman and Florist was born 8th August, 1851. He married Mary Harvey, born 26 February 1851. John died 29 August, 1909 and Mary died 29 May 1915. It is thought John was from Whittington.
Hull Botanic Gardens
In 1880 the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred attended the opening of the Botanic Gardens, Hull to plant some Oak Trees, one of which had been chosen by Prince Leopold from Fisher, Son and Sibray, while on his visit to Sheffield to open Firth College.
Charles Fisher
In 1881 Charles Fisher was described as Nursery Master, employing 153 at the Nursery. Charles (1823-1902) was successor to his grandfather. His wife, Jane Miller Fisher was aged 64 and from Quebec, Canada. Their daughter Mary Jane, age 22 and unmarried was living with the family.
Employees 1881
Charles Cranham (b.1843 Bagshot, Surrey) and John Larrisay (b.1845 Loversall, Doncaster) were Nursery Foreman.
Joseph Beardsell, 36 from Stockport, Cheshire, was employed as Cashier.
Other employees from all over the UK and Ireland from age 13 upwards:
Gardeners: Joseph Beet, Thomas Saxton, William Woodman, William A Rides, Carmelion Rhodes, Joseph Bucknell, John and Walter Abdy, Thomas Elvin (Propagator), Isaac, John and Samuel Bradbury, John Linton Chapman, Charles Edwin Carriss, Robert Elkington, George England, James A. Goodchild, Moses Harrison, William Marshall, Edward Cardwell, Albert and James Youle, John Wilson, William Cook, Timothy Byren, Thomas Donellan, Joseph Johnson, William Carr Honeyburn, Jarvis Parkin, Charles Booles, Thomas Flinn, William and Joseph Lomas, Francis Hopkinson. Frederick C. Williams, George E Corbett, A. Ernest Townsend,
Nurserymen: James Fraser, Henry Sibray (1837-1894), Peter Galligan,
Labourers: John Shaughnessy, James Tansey, Patsey Tansey.
Henry Sibray
Henry Sibray (1837-1894) was married to Julia Described as Nurseryman in partnership with Messrs. Fisher He died Handsworth, 24 November 1894
The nursery exhibited frequently in the UK including the 12th R.H.S., Temple Flower Show in 1899 when they received a Gold Medal for foliage plants.
In 1925 they received a Royal Horticultural Society Medal for Ornamental Trees & Shrubs.
Hollies
The nursery specialised in the growing of hollies and it is known that at least 70 varieties were available. One of those hollies was named after the designer, and first curator of the Botanical Garden, Sheffield, Mr. Robert Marnock - Ilex altaclerensis 'Marnockii'. A specimen of this holly was planted at the bottom of the main east lawn.
Ilex Platyphylla - thought to be one of the earlier introductions from the mid 1800s
Ilex x altaclerensis 'Wilsonii' - this cultivar arose as a chance seedling in the early 1890s
Ilex Atkinsonii - Early 1900s
Ilex Wilsoni
Ilex Moorei - 1930s - 1940s
Handsworth New Silver: One of the most successful and widely grown variegated cultivars - before 1850, and awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Other Collections
As well as hollies, from the nursery came a collection of Acers, Golden Oaks, Purple leaved Peaches, and a variety of Ivies. Some groups of Dimorphanthus aurea marginata were much admired.
Taxas Baccata Handsworthiana -
Taxas Baccata Fastigiata Aureamarginata - 1881
Taxas Baccata Adpressa Aurea raised in 1885 and distributed by Standish Nurseries Ascot
Taxas Baccata, hibernica grandis - 1891
Rhodedendrum Handsworth's Early White (caucasicum x) - before 1928
Buxus sempervirens, var. Handsworthi. A dense-growing form, with large, dark foliage. One of the best.
Catalogues
- Plant: from 1896
- Bulb: from 1909
- Seed: from 1910
Evidence shows that the home of John Hobson of Tapton Elms Sheffied was planted with evergreen shrubs, including hollies provided by Fisher Son & Sibray. Some still exist today.
The nursery was at Bowden Housteads, part of which is now occupied by a supermarket.