Lampy, the first Garden Gnome

Wilf might look like an old codger to some of you (a claim he would firmly deny), but in the world of

Garden Gnomes, little old Wilf is a spring chicken! A familiar sight in many gardens, Wilf and his kind are considered synonymous with traditional British gardening, and are alternately seen as cute, camp or kitsch depending upon just who you’re talking to.

Regardless, what is now a well-rooted cultural aspect of this nation’s gardens was once an exotic addition to the lawns of only the most eccentric lords and ladies. Gnomes were instead a familiar legend in German folk stories, where they would willingly help tend people’s gardens in the middle of the night. In the mid-19^th century, sculptor Philip Griebel made these legends real by adapting the tradition for porcelain “House Dwarfs” to outdoor, terracotta ornaments. The first garden gnomes were born.

In 1847, Sir Charles Isham paid a visit to Germany, and returned home with twenty-one such gnomes. After decorating them around the grounds of Lamport Hall, a nation-wide love for garden dwelling visitors quickly kicked off amongst the upper class, and the rise of the British gnome began in earnest.

Unfortunately, Sir Isham’s daughter wasn’t such a fan of these mythical creatures, and quickly had them all removed from the estate after her father’s death. All, that is, except one. Now known as ‘Lampy, the Garden Gnome’, this diminutive little figure is the oldest living garden gnome not merely in Britain, but across the globe. Having seen more than a century and a half of history go by, this 150 year old gnome proudly resides within Lamport Hall, and is believed to be worth a cool £2 million.

For Wilf, 150 years isn’t a dream. It’s a (potentially rather lofty) goal!