Stephen Hooker (September 3, 1779 Brenchley - December 8, 1857 Brenchley), Nursery owner at Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells.
[From "Horticultural Society of London. May 1, 1823. List of members", 1823, p. 32:] Hooker, Mr. Stephen, Brenchley, near Lamberhurst, Kent.
[From
The Horticultural Register, 1834, p. 382:] London Horticultural Society...Large Silver Medal ..For China Roses, from Mr. Stephen Hooker, of Brenchley, F.H.S....The Gold Banksian Medal...For Garden Roses, from Mr. Stephen Hooker, of Brenchley, near Lamberhurst, F.H.S.
[From
The Gardener's Chronicle, January 30, 1858, p. 79:] Brenchley, Kent. To Noblemen, Gentlemen, and all Admirers of Conifers, &c. Important Sale of Rare Specimen Conifers, Forest Trees, Evergreens, Deciduous Shrubs, and a few Greenhouse Plants. Messrs Charlton are instructed to Sell by Auction, at the Firs, Brenchley, the residence of the late STEPHEN HOOKER, Esq., on WEDNESDAY, Feb. 17, at 11 for 12 o’Clock, some very valuable, rare, and large Specimens of Pinus insignis, P. macrosarpa, P. ponderosa, P. muricata, P. excelsa, P. Sabiniana, P. Cembra, P. austriaca, P. Montezumae, and other varieties; Abies Douglasi, A. Morinda, A. pinsapo, A. cephalonica, A. Menziesi, &c.; Picea Webbiana, P. nobilis, &c.; Araucaria imbricata, 30 feet high; Cedrus Deodara, from 15 to 20 feet high; Cupressus macrocarpa, C. Goveniana, &c.; Cryptomeria japonica; a quantity of Evergreen and Deciduous Shrubs, including American, Chinese, and Siberian Arbor-Vitae, green and variegated Hollies, Evergreen Oaks, &c. The whole are particularly worthy the attention of noblemen, gentlemen, and public companies wishing to enrich their collections, as most of the specimens were selected with great care by the late Mr. Hooker, whose knowledge, taste, and judgment in matters of horticulture justly gained for him much celebrity in this part of the country. Most of the plants were raised from some of the first seeds of their kind brought to this country and distributed by the Horticultural Society, and planted some distance apart to stand as specimens. The Auctioneers feel certain that any advertsement will fail in accurately describing the Beauty of many of the trees. Purchasers will therefore do well to pay a visit of inspection; application may be made upon the premises.- Catalogues may be had 10 days previous to the sale of the Auctioneers, Tonbridge; the principal Inns in the neighbourhood; Messrs. Charlwood & Cummins, Seedsmen, Covent Garden; and at the auction Mart, London. N.B. Brenchley is near the Paddock Wood Station, on the South Eastern Railway, where conveyances may be had at any time of the day.
