815
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First mention of Bedgebury in an Anglo-Saxon charter.
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1400s
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The name Bedgebury derives from the earliest listed resident of the area, John de Bedgebury.
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1425
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The estate comes under Culpeper ownership.
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1660
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Following the English Civil War, Bedgebury is sold to Sir Thomas Hayes.
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1680
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Sir James Hayes builds an imposing new manor house at Bedgebury, which still exists today in private ownership.
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1836
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The estate passes to Field-Marshal Viscount Beresford and his wife Lady Louisa. The family starts planting newly discovered and recently introduced tree species; many of these can still be seen on site today. Louisa Lake in the forest and Marshal's Lake (pictured) in the Pinetum are named after this important couple.
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1850
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William Beresford creates the hamlets of Kilndown and Bedgebury to house his estate staff.
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1883
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Alexander Beresford-Hope, son of Louisa from her first marriage, takes over the estate. The avenue of Lawson cypress in the Pinetum is named after Alexander's wife, Lady Mildred.
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1899
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The estate is sold to Isaac Lewis, a City financier, who lets it fall to ruin.
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1919
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The Crown Estate purchases the Bedgebury Estate for the newly formed Forestry Commission.
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1925
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The Forestry Commission, in partnership with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, starts to plan the relocation of Kew's conifer collection to Bedgebury, spearheaded by renowned conifer expert and Assistant Curator at Kew, William Dallimore. Read more about Dallimore's legacy in our magazine: Issue 10 here.
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1929
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An area to the east of the Pinetum known as 'The Plots' is planted as a research area for species trials. You can walk here as part of the Hidden Secrets of the Pinetum trail.
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1959
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William Dallimore, whose efforts brought about the creation of The National Pinetum at Bedgebury, dies. 'Dallimore Valley' is named after him.
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1965
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The Forestry Commission and Kew end their collaborative work at Bedgebury as Kew's efforts move to Wakehurst Place.
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1987
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The Great Storm: Bedgebury loses a third of its tree collection. Although catastrophic, it provides the Forestry Commission with the opportunity to redesign the landscape and establish a different planting regime. Formerly taxonomically organised, trees now start to be grouped more aesthetically. This strategy also reduces the risk of mass destruction either by storm or disease.
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From 2006 to present
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Bedgebury works with global partners to help conserve endangered tree species and the team achieves some significant 'firsts' in tree conservation. Bedgebury participates in seed-collecting trips to places such as USA, Japan, China, Vietnam and Australasia to help save the rarest conifer species on the planet.
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