Origins of the John Innes composts
John Innes Conservation Area
In his will John Innes established a Trust on land in Merton Park to establish thereon a school of horticulture to give technical instruction in the principles of science and the art of horticulture. It became a centre for the investigation of how common fruit species breed and the development of new species, headed by a pioneer in the new science of genetics.
Property developer and benefactor
John Innes lived from 1829-1904 and made his fortune as a City of London property developer.
He bought an area of farmland which he called Merton Park, built houses on some of it, and experimented with growing different crops for the London market. He became the local squire and helped to found Rutlish High School, which now occupies his house.
There is a splendid tomb to John Innes in the churchyard at St Mary's Merton. The holly hedges in the conservation area are a reminder of his enthusiasm for holly trees - reflected in the leaf design on the signs with street names.
The composts
John Innes compost was developed in Merton, but subsequently the company sold up because of poor soil and moved first to Hertfordshire and then to Norwich, where the for research and training in plant science is now.
Submitted by: Sarah Codrington, 18 January 2007
