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Miss Ethel Harting (1870-1942)

Ethel Mary Harting followed in the footsteps of her father J. E. Harting, an eminent botanist and zoologist, in devoting her life to the study and exposition of Natural History. She was involved with Weybridge (later to become Elmbridge) Museum from its inception, serving as Natural History Curator from 1909 until 1926. Miss Harting was a skilled botanical water-colourist; over 170 of her paintings were donated to the Museum by Miss Elizabeth Hamilton Smith, a resident of Balfour Road, Weybridge.

All the paintings were produced in 1897, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. She painted a wide variety of plants including woodland and water flowers. Miss Harting visited many homes and gardens in Weybridge to locate her specimens: Clinton House Conservatory, Holme Chase and Oatlands Park Hotel were among her venues. She also went further afield to Oakfield Gardens, the beginnings of the Royal Horticultural Gardens at Wisley; Kew Gardens; Jackman's Nurseries at Woking and Veitches' Orchid House in Chelsea to list but a few. People also sent her flowers to record such as the Canterbury Bells said to be from the Queen's garden at Windsor.

Browse a selection of objects in our collection relating to Ethel Harting below.