ICON inside ICON: CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF
RUXLEY MANOR
BY SOPHIE SHORTER
There’ s something quietly familiar about finding your home and garden essentials alongside local produce in one place, but when that same destination is celebrating its 150th anniversary, familiarity gives way to a deeper sense of heritage and pride.
Sidcup’ s much-loved Ruxley Manor, founded in 1876, is a fifth-generation business that is now widely recognised as the UK’ s best family-run destination garden centre.
In its early days, the former H. Evans and Sons, founded by Henry Evans, grew a wide range of plants ready to sell at the markets in Covent Garden, which were transported by horse and cart. As demand for its highquality produce continued to grow, current director Richard Evans transformed the long-running business in 1964 into what would become Ruxley Manor Garden Centre. Beginning life as a mail-order seed delivery service, the operation quickly outgrew its original setup prompting the purchase of Ruxley Manor Farm.
Visitors could often find Grandma Grace chatting to friends during the first year of the garden centre’ s opening and, in her honour, the on-site day nursery was created. Between the 1960s and 80s, the site gradually expanded into the landmark destination centre recognised today, including the addition of large glasshouses that produced poinsettias for notable brands like Marks & Spencer.
In 2009, Ruxley Manor faced devastation when a fire destroyed its warehouses and stock, but acting as a catalyst for development, the centre continued to thrive leading to its 2025 Best Destination Garden Centre title- a milestone bestowed upon it by the Garden Centre Association( GCA) reflecting the charity work, sustainable efforts and widespread offerings of the centre.
Today, Ruxley Manor combines modern retail with centuries of local history. The site is home to the 17th-century manor house and the restored Grade II listed St Botolph’ s Church, with the former gravel pits now transformed into lakes within a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Alongside its horticultural heritage, the centre has also become known for its seasonal experiences, particularly its award-winning Christmas department, miniature festive town and ever-popular ice rink.
To celebrate its milestone anniversary, Ruxley Manor saw free mini birthday cakes in the cafe, live music, food tastings, charity raffles and a commemorative memory wall created, sharing stories and memories from customers and employees throughout the decades.
Looking ahead, the centre is set once again to host its Ruxley in Bloom competition, an annual occasion inviting schools and residents within a 15-mile radius to showcase their gardening talents, while also continuing its charitable work with 2026 partner ellenor hospice, an organisation providing support to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses across North Kent and Bexley.
What began as a small cultivation business in Victorian Sidcup has grown into one of Kent’ s most recognisable landmarks. From horse-drawn deliveries to becoming the UK’ s Best Destination Garden Centre, Ruxley Manor’ s story has been shaped by resilience, reinvention and five generations of family tradition.
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