St John’s College Kitchen Garden, 18 Madingley Road

History of 18 Madingley Road

The kitchen garden here was on land that had been previously a working farm. There extensive outbuildings, greenhouses, a vinery and a large fruit store. Orchards, vegetable and fruit gardens, and a piggery, were managed as they would have been for a country house, not a commercial market garden.

See “Ralph Edwin Thoday” CAS Vol CXIV 2025.

1928

Ralph Edwin Thoday was appointed head gardener. he was paid £3 5s a week with a gardener’s house rent free. He managed it with a large orchard, a vinery and greenhouses.

1932

Ralph was appointed head gardener of all St John’s College gardens. It was from this time that he began an expensive programme of fruit tree planting in the college grounds. Whilst maintaining the college gardens Ralph also managed to win a large number of awards for his fruit and vegetables.

1960

Ralph Thoday retired from St John’s College. The kitchen garden was closed down soon after. Churchill College was soon to be built on part of the kitchen garden land.

1962

D Foreman , market gardner