A curious collection

Lauderdale House once overflowed with rocks, books, Greek and Roman art and exotic plants. On some days it was also overrun by London’s in-crowd.

Between 1850 and 1871 many people visited Lauderdale House to see the collections amassed by James Yates, who lived here at the time. Others attended popular ‘archaeological’ garden parties laid on by James and his wife Dorothea.

Whatever their reason for coming, James and Dorothea’s visitors were rarely disappointed. They enjoyed generous hospitality, lively, intelligent conversation and a chance to see plenty of unusual things. The most curious of these could be found in James’s palm house, which stood to the side of the main building.

James and Dorothea Yates called the lively garden parties they hosted at Lauderdale House ‘matinee archeologiques’ or archaeological afternoons. But guests didn’t need to appreciate archaeology to have a good time here.

Visitors who shared James’s fascination with Ancient history and art could check out his personal collections or browse displays brought here by other collectors. They might also listen to a lecture on anything from the Ancient Roman pottery of Kent to European bronze sculpture.

For other partygoers, a visit to Lauderdale House was a chance to catch up with friends in a beautiful garden setting. With drinking and dancing, some might even meet their future partner here.

James Yates was a man of many interests, but he was most well-known for his extraordinary collection of palm-like plants called cycads. With broad trunks and long, leathery leaves these ancient plants would have made a striking addition to the impressive gardens of Lauderdale House.

In Victorian times the octagonal palm house James built here was one of just a handful of places in England where live cycads could be seen. Usually, they were more at home in countries like Mexico, Japan, Australia or South Africa.

James welcomed anyone who wanted to visit his cycad collection and sent out special invitations when a plant was about to flower. On at least one occasion this was an explosive event. When a long, pineapple-like fruit burst open as it flowered, James found its orange scales scattered across the palm house, as if thrown from the plant by a violent force.