Lutyens’ Collaboration with Gertrude Jekyll
Edwin Lutyens was and still is celebrated for his distinctive architectural style which is a unique blend of classicism and the needs of his era. Gardeners, however, are more familiar with the architect’s garden bench design which was named after him. Like Lutyens’ architectural masterpieces, Lutyens bench is marked by a unique blend of the traditional style and functionality which gives it a touch of modern sophistication. But what it perhaps less known is that Lutyens’ designs including the famous garden bench were significantly influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, a brilliant garden designer and horticulturist with whom he collaborated from the beginning of his career.
Lutyens met Gertrude Jekyll when he received the first commission after opening his own architectural practice in 1888. They soon started a professional relationship which profoundly influenced his later work, especially the country house designs. Lutyens’ collaboration with Gertrude Jekyll, however, also helped him to establish himself as an influential architect. Gertrude Jekyll was at the time they met a respected garden designer who also wrote for the Country Life magazine. The magazine’s founder, Edward Hudson was impressed by Lutyens’ work and featured many of his designs in the magazine. He later also commissioned the architect to design the Country Life building in London and refurbish the Lindisfarne Castle he bought in 1901. Gertrude Jekyll, on the other hand, was commissioned to design the castle’s garden. Lutyens’ designs later became more traditional in comparison to his early works, however, they continued to reveal the influence of his collaboration with Jekyll especially the designs of private houses.
While Lutyens was working on the new look of New Delhi which was chosen as the new seat of the Government of India, Jekyll continued to design gardens and landscape as well as writing books and articles on garden design and horticulture. By the time of her death in 1932, she has designed more than 400 gardens all over the United Kingdom as well as elsewhere in Europe and the United States. The Country Life magazine and other magazines such as The Garden published over 1,300 articles she wrote. She also published 15 books of which was most successful Colour in the Flower Garden. Her approach to garden design as well as collaboration with Lutyens gave the English garden a “natural” and kind of artistic touch which still serves as inspiration for many garden designs.
Gertrude Jekyll died in 1932 aged 89. She was buried next to her brother Sir Herbert Jekyll and his wife Lady Agnes Jekyll in the graveyard of the St. John the Baptist Church (Busbridge) in the town of Godalming. The monument surrounding the three tombs was designed by Lutyens.
Interesting fact: Gertrude’s younger brother, the Reverend Walter Jekyll was a friend of the Scottish novelist, poet, travel writer and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson who took the family name for his famous work the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide.