John Haverfield Sr (1694–1784) was an Englishgardener and landscape architect.[1][2]
John Haverfield was a surveyor atTwickenham; he later moved toKew Green where he had a house builtc. 1750, which was known as Haverfield House.[3]
Lord Bute recommended John Haverfield to Princess Augusta in 1759 to succeed Robert Greening at Kew. At that time there were two royal gardens atKew, Richmond Gardens to the west and the grounds of Kew House to the east, which had been reconstructed byCapability Brown. John Haverfield was Head Gardener at Kew toAugusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, and superintendent of the Royal Gardens at Richmond Lodge. In October 1759 he was recorded "ordering and cultivating Her Royal Highness's garden at Kew".[4] On the death ofGeorge II in 1760, Haverfield was in charge of Richmond Gardens andWilliam Aiton ofKew Gardens. In 1762 his son, John, joined to assist his father. In 1763 he was paid £700pa "for cultivating and keeping in order our Pleasure Grounds and Orangery, Kitchen Garden and Melon Ground at Kew".[4] On 1 January 1783 William Aiton was appointed chief gardener when the Haverfields resigned, although they continued to be responsible for the Richmond Gardens.[4] On Havefield's death in 1784 his son John followed him for a couple of years before concentrating on his own business. Aiton then succeeded to the management of both gardens, so combining the two main gardens.[5][6] When he died in 1784 his son took over the management of Richmond Garden.
He married Ann Drew (1717–1769) in 1742 atHigham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.
Their children were:
The three sons of John Sr were members of KewMasonic Lodge.Johan Zoffany painted "The three brothers Haverfield" (John, Thomas and William).[10]
John Haverfield died on 29 October 1784 at Kew, Surrey, and was buried atSt Anne's Church, Kew, in the family tomb. There is apewcushion for him in St Anne's Church, Kew, which depicts Haverfield House.[11] Haverfield Gardens, Kew, is built on the orchard that once belonged to the Haverfield estate.[12]