Edward Milner


[Image:The art and practice of landscape gardening (1890) (19716210403).jpg|thumb|300px|Milner's design for Buxton Pavilion Gardens]
Edward Milner was an English landscape architect.

Early life and career

Edward Milner was born in Darley, Derbyshire, the eldest child of Henry Milner and Mary née Scales. Henry Milner was employed at Chatsworth by William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, as a gardener and porter. Edward was educated at Bakewell Grammar School and was then apprenticed to Chatsworth's head gardener, Joseph Paxton. In 1841 he continued his studies in Paris at the Jardin des Plantes and returned home to become Paxton's assistant. He worked with Paxton in developing and managing Princes [Park, Liverpool] and assisted him at Osmaston Manor in Derbyshire. In 1847 he laid out the Italian Garden at Tatton Park, Cheshire, which had been designed by Paxton. When Paxton re-erected The Crystal Palace in Penge Park, Sydenham in 1852, Milner was appointed as the superintendent of works. He also worked for Paxton in creating the People's Park, Halifax for Francis Crossley.

Independent career

From the mid-1850s, Milner worked as an independent landscape gardener. He received commissions for work in England and Wales, including designing three public parks in Preston, Lancashire. These parks were constructed as part of a scheme for relieving unemployment caused by the cotton famine in the 1860s. He also designed gardens in Germany and Denmark. In 1881 he became principal of the Crystal Palace School of Gardening, established by the Crystal Palace Company.

Works as an independent designer

This is an incomplete list.
LocationHouse/GardenDetailsDateRefs------
Llanfairfechan, ConwyBryn y Neuadd Hospital------
nr Lincoln, LincolnshireHartsholme HallFor Joseph Shuttleworth, inventor1862------
Heighington, LincolnshireHeighington HallFor Alfred Shuttleworth, industrialistnr Matlock, DerbyshireStancliffe HallFor Sir Joseph Whitworth, inventor
Tal-y-Cafn, ConwyBodnant Garden For H. D. Pochin, Chemist------
Berriew, PowysGlansevern Hall & Gardens For Arthur Davies Owen, 1880------
nr Burton upon Trent, StaffordshireRangemore HallFor M. T. Bass, brewer and philanthropist------
nr Shaftesbury, DorsetIwerne MinsterFor G. G. Glyn, Lord Wolverton, Whip and politician------
Birmingham, West MidlandsHighburyFor Joseph Chamberlain, statesman------
BathLocksbrook Cemetery------
Dingestow, MonmouthshireDingestow CourtFor Samuel Bosanquet------
Peterborough, CambridgeshireElton Hall------
Halifax, West YorkshireStoney Royd CemeteryOpened 1861------
Halifax, West YorkshirePeople's Park, Halifax------
Horsham, West SussexWarnham CourtFor Sir [John Pelly, 1st Baronet|Sir J. H. Pelly]'s son, Sir John Pelly 1864------
Preston, LancashireMoor ParkOpened 1867------
Preston, LancashireMiller ParkOpened 1867------
Preston, LancashireAvenham ParkOpened 1867------
Buxton, DerbyshirePavilion GardensFor the Buxton Improvements Company on behalf of the 7th Duke of Devonshire1871------
Lincoln, LincolnshireLincoln ArboretumOpened 1872------
Bromyard, HerefordshireBredenbury Courtc. 1876------
Halifax, West YorkshireShroggs ParkFor Colonel Edward AkroydOpened 1881------
Morpeth, NorthumberlandWallington HallA parterre1882------
Westphalia, GermanyWildpark DülmenFor the House of Croÿ------
Westphalia, GermanySchloss Anholt, BorkenFor the mediatised Prince of Salm-Salm------
DenmarkKnutenborg ParkFor Count E. C. Knuth------
BelgiumChâteau MirandaFor the Liedekerke-Beaufort family1866------

Personal life

In 1844 he married Elizabeth Mary Kelly of Liverpool with whom he had 11 children. The family moved to Norwood, London, and later to Dulwich Wood Park. Milner appointed his son Henry Ernest as his principal assistant. Edward Milner founded the garden design and landscape architecture firm of Milner-White. He died at his home in 1884 leaving an estate valued at slightly over £8,000.