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Norah Geddes (1887–1967) was a Scottish landscape designer.

Norah Geddes
Geddes circa 1915
Born	Norah Geddes 1887
Died	1967
Nationality	Scottish
Education	Edinburgh School of Art
Known for	Landscape design
Spouse(s)	Frank Mears
Parent(s)	Patrick Geddes (father)

Early life and education

Geddes was born in 1887.[1] Her parents were Patrick Geddes and Anna Geddes née Morten.[2] Her childhood is described as "unconventional and peripatetic" and lacking conventional schooling in The New Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women.[2] She attended her father's botany course at the University of Dundee when she was just 14[1][3] before moving to the Edinburgh College of Art for drawing lessons.[1]

Career

Both her parents worked extensively to improve conditions for the poor, and so Norah's first endeavour was to provide window box planting.[1] She took a leading role in her father's Open Spaces project, which aimed to revive derelict urban plots with gardens and play areas.[4] In 1908, the group carried out a survey to locate sites within the city that could be used to provide outdoor recreation areas for the local residents and their children.[5] In 1909, she opened White Hart Garden below Johnstone Gardens – the first in a series of spaces brought back to life by her designs.[4]

Geddes joined her father's Open Spaces Committee at the Outlook Tower and Camera Obscurer[6] but was left frustrated with her scope of work in the role.[1]

Initially she contributed significantly to the planning and layout of the Royal Zoological Society Scotland Garden.[7] It was inspired by zoos in Hamburg and New York, which moved away from the caged menageries of the Victorian era and instead promoted large open enclosures and naturalistic settings.[7] It had pet corners and promoted opportunities for education.[8] Her part in this was overshadowed by those of her husband and her father.[1]

Geddes has been described as "One of the early pioneers of creating green spaces in an urban environment for the benefit for the local community. Norah's work 110 years ago is still incredibly important today."[4]

Personal life

Geddes met her husband Frank Mears in 1913. The couple lived in Ramsay Garden.[6] Once married their eldest son, Kenneth, was born the following year; Alastair in 1918, and John two years later.[5] Geddes's landscape gardening career was effectively over.[1]

Notable works

• The Royal Zoological Society Scotland Garden[1][2]
• Chessel's Court, Edinburgh[1]
• Johnstone Terrace, Edinburgh[1]
• The West Port Garden, Edinburgh[1]
• A number of playgrounds in Dublin[2][7]

References

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