CHAIRMAN Michael McCurdy introduced Dr Murray Mylechreest to talk about John Williams of Pitmaston (1773-1853), a local pioneer of the application of science to agriculture.
A son of a local businessman with a distillery near the now Cripplegate Park, on his marriage he moved into Pitmaston House on the Malvern Road where he investigated the effect of climate on growing plants under glass, especially grapes and melons.
His interests in local affairs included Worcester Royal Infirmary, and the work carried out by Dr Wilson Philip at the time of Charles Hastings, founder of the British Medical Association.
He was a friend of Thomas Andrew Knight of Herefordshire who was also interested in breeding new varieties of fruit, growth of plants under protected cultivation, pests and diseases and the growth of roots and shoots.
In 1811 Knight became the second president of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Both men produced new varieties of fruit, Williams’ Pitmaston Duchess pear is still grown today and both promoted the science of horticulture, locally and nationally.
They were significant attendees of the third anniversary meeting of the Worcestershire Natural History Society meeting in the Guildhall in 1836, along with Charles Hastings.
The vote of thanks was proposed by the chairman.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article