Mildenhall Museum

Mildenhall Museum, King Street, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7EX

( 01638 716970 : info@mildenhallmuseum.co.uk

‘End of an Era’ for Sandford’s Garden Centre

Formerly R. Sandford & Co. Dahlia & Michaelmas Specialists

Sandford’s Garden Centre/span> has closed as of 31 December 2004.

Here is a brief history.

About 1910 the Sandfords moved to Barton Mills. Robert was married to Maude Hurrel from Madingley Hall, Cambridge and they had one daughter, Gladys. He grew sweet peas and violets when he first started the nursery. Later he started growing dahlias and michaelmas daisies and by 1937 had opened the gardens to the public to raise funds for St. Mary’s Church.

During the war, the garden site was used to grow vegetables and tomatoes. Both German and Italian P.O.W. workers came from the Victoria prisoner of war camp to help work the land. After the war, the dahlia and michaelmas daisies were once again grown and new varieties were introduced. Alec Bailey, who worked for Mr Sandford, designed the beautiful gardens. For the next 20 years the gardens were opened to the public each Sunday of September and October until the first frost. People came from far and wide, with coaches parked up Tuddenham road and cars parked on the land across from the gardens. The money raised was given to charity for the British Legion, St. Mary’s Church, & Suffolk Regiment O.C.A. Gladys, a Girl Guide Captain, and partner in the gardens, did a lot of work for the British Legion. She won the cup for the most money collected from a village for three years running. Mr. and Mrs. Sandford took an active part in St. Mary’s church. At one time Mr. Sandford was Choirmaster. When Mrs Sandford died (1952), the New Priest Door was presented to the church in her memory by her family. Gladys Sandford died in 1957. At that point, Alec and Dorothy Bailey became business partners with Mr. Sandford.

Alec and Dorothy continued the mail order of dahlias and daisies after Mr Sandford died in 1959. Shipping costs increased and change was inevitable. By the 1960’s Alec and his son, Colin had built the Garden Centre which prospered for the next 25 years. Stock was extended to include slabs for patios and rockery gardens. It seemed that going to a small garden centre on a Sunday afternoon was a treat for the whole family. Times were good!

Then in 1986 the bypass brought about a shift in trade. Gardening supplies became popular in grocery and DIY stores, petrol stations, and car boot sales-- no longer limited to the local garden centre.

To conclude my parents, Alec (died 2000) and Dorothy (died 1990) thank you for the life long friendships that have been established and for your past custom over the years. They were good years! It’s now the 21^st century and change is still inevitable!

Yours Sincerely

Colin and Wanda Bailey

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