There are three original gardens within Westminster Abbey: the
Garth, the Little Cloister and College Garden. St Catherine's
Garden lies in the area of the ruined monastery and was more
recently created. Each Garden had a separate function: the Garth
with its square of turf, bounded by Cloisters, gave the monks
somewhere to rest their eyes and minds as they walked around it.
Metaphysically speaking, green was symbolic of rebirth, and
therefore appropriate for spiritual refreshment. The Little
Cloister Garden with its fountain and borders of scented plants
was an area set aside for recuperation after illness. There would
have probably been seats in this garden, and may have well been
turf-topped ones, which were common in medieval times. The
College Garden was the Infirmarer's Garden, used for the purposes
of growing medicinal herbs and foods for the general well-being
of the occupants of the Abbey. It is very unusual (possibly
unique in England) for an Abbey or Monastery to still have its
infirmarer's garden attached and kept as a garden.
The Infirmary Garden originally contained an orchard (hence
the name of the nearby Abbey Orchard Street). Though the orchard
would have grown apples, pears, plums, figs, mulberries, nuts,
medlars and vines, it did not exist merely to provide food. It
was also an area of beauty, neatly laid out with plentiful paths
and containing roses and lilies. This area was also known as the
Cemetery Orchard for the monks were buried there. Symbolically,
life and death were dovetailed in this garden. Vegetables such as
broad beans, leeks, onions, garlic, coleworts (kale) and root
vegetables were grown in a separate plot. There were also
fishponds, beehives, and an area for growing medicinal herbs. The
value of herbs to medieval people cannot be overestimated. Their
bland vegetable and starch diet needed herbal flavouring to make
it palatable. Herbs had enormous symbolic meaning, many being
named after the Virgin Mary such as 'Lady's Bedstraw', Galium
verum. Illnesses were treated by diet, blood-letting, and the
application of herbs - surgery was only attempted in cases of
direst need.
The Gardens were tended by a Head Gardener and two
undergardeners. They were monks and expected to attend matins and
compline, though they were asked to leave their muddy boots and
capes outside. In addition to providing the Abbey with food, the
Gardener also gave away fruit from the orchard to local people on
25th July every year, St James' Day. Up to 1300, England had a
Mediterranean climate, ideal for fruit growing, and especially
vines and wine making. After this the weather became cool and
damp. The Gardener had one day off a year, called his 'O' Day. He
could choose when he wanted to take it, and the other monks gave
money for him to spend on his special day.