In 1945 a small-holding belonging to the Marquis of Northampton became available to rent at Nags Hall, Godstone. Jack took the opportunity of renting it and the family moved in. It was a brave step — some of the children were still at school and Jack was in his early sixties. But the seeds of the family business were sown. Jack developed the market garden and began to supply local shops and businesses with vegetables, flowers, bedding plants and fresh fruit. He also developed a good roadside business with many local customers calling in for his fresh produce. Two of the sons, Brian and David, began helping their father and the business moved forward. When Jack died in 1961 his ambition of a family business had been fulfilled. In the early 70s Nags Hall became the first garden centre in Surrey — a great new shop selling horticultural products. Also, in the 70s, we purchased the established herbaceous Rosedene Nursery in Woldingham and in 1989 acquired the nearby beautiful Georgian property — The Dene. This meant we could extend the garden centre, landscape the grounds and move in to catering. In 1993 the business grew further with the purchase of Chelsham Place in Warlingham, a derelict site which soon became a modern garden centre.
