CHAPTER IV 
KEW UNDER GEORGE III 
John 
Haverfield 
At the period which we have now reached, when the Richmond and 
Kew Gardens both belonged to George III., the botanical section 
of Kew Gardens was being managed by William Aiton. 
The Richmond Garden had, since 1760, been under 
the superintendence of John Haverfield, as also, it is 
probable, had that portion of the Kew demesne known as the Pleasure 
Grounds. The limits and duration of the respective charges of Aiton 
and Haverfield are now somewhat obscure, and several versions of 
the matter are extant. A grandson of Haverfield was curate of 
Kew from 1812 to 1818, and during the latter year officiated as Royal 
Chaplain there. In a letter published in Leisure Hour in 1862, 
he writes that his grandfather “ was presented to the Princess of 
Wales by the Earl of Bute, and appointed by her superintendent of 
the Royal Gardens which were originally laid out by him.” He also 
says that Aiton came to Kew as his grandfather’s principal assistant. 
George III. made Aiton superintendent of the whole of Kew Gardens, 
whilst Haverfield, who was then well over seventy years of age, retained 
the management of Richmond Gardens until his death, at the age of 
ninety, October 29, 1784 He was succeeded in this position by 
his son, John Haverfield, junior, who kept it until his retirement 
about 1795. After that the administration of the two entire 
properties was vested in one person — the younger Aiton. 
Soon after George III. took over Kew House and its grounds, 
there occurred an event, of minor importance certainly, but interesting 
because of the fame in after life of the person concerned. 
This was the employment of William Cobbett — the famous 
Radical of later times and the author of “ Rural Rides ” 
— as an under-gardener at Kew. Cobbett himself says : “I had 
always been fond of beautiful gardens, and a gardener who had just 
come from the King’s gardens at Kew gave me such a description 
William 
Cobbett. 
