This year we have taken the opportunity to recreate historic photographs of previous staff, a project that has really brought these people to life. Jamie Vickers and his team are photographed here in the same pose as 1910s gardener John Parker.
John Parker worked as Head Gardener at Coughton Court between 1901 and 1914. We have records in the estate ledgers of the amounts he made in sales of produce from the gardens.
He enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1914, leaving behind his wife Dora and his daughter Evelyn Daisy. He served at Gallipoli, Egypt and Basra, before falling victim to the conditions of the war. John died on July 10th 1917 from heat stroke, exacerbated by the unhealthy conditions. He was 34 years old.