Frances Wolseley

Frances Garnet Wolseley, 2nd Viscountess Wolseley (15 September 1872 – 24 December 1936) was an English gardening author and instructor. Her Glynde College for Lady Gardeners in East Sussex had the patronage of famous gardening names such as Gertrude Jekyll, Ellen Willmott, and William Robinson.

Background Frances Wolseley was born in Pimlico, London, on 15 September 1872. Her parents were the British Army officer Sir Garnet Wolseley and Lady Wolseley (née Louisa Erskine). Garnet had declined a prestigious post in India due to Louisa's pregnancy. In a letter sent from Crimea to his aunt, Garnet described his daughter as:

Garnet hoped for sons, but Frances remained the Wolseleys' only child. Though he was not outwardly affectionate, Garnet was fond of his daughter; he sent letters to her from his campaigns abroad and brought gifts. Her father's career forced the family to move a lot. Wolseley thus grew up in villas such as The Limes and Aylesford House and visited her father in Cyprus and Cairo. Wolseley relished her father's company, though he had little understanding of the needs of children. She resembled him in small stature, smart dress, and vigour. Her wider campaign in support of gardening led to a successful book, Gardening for Women (1908), which described ways women in horticulture could support the rural economy. She toured gardens and horticultural colleges in England, Canada and South Africa in that period. She was admitted into the Worshipful Company of Gardeners of the City of London in 1913. In the same year she inherited the viscountcy from her father (remainder by special arrangement) and then moved to Massetts Place near Lindfield, West Sussex with her mother. She moved in 1920 to Culpepers, Ardingly, West Sussex. Her later works mainly covered local history.

As Lady Wolseley never married or had children, the Wolseley title became extinct upon her death.