Brodsworth Hall and Gardens
A close-up of Jan van Huysum's Flowers in a Terracotta Vase painting.

A Season of Flowers

This year, a new exhibition at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens celebrates all things floral.

Join us for A Season of Flowers, from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 1 November 2026. Step inside Sylvia Grant-Dalton’s recreated garden room, meet the team who care for Brodsworth’s gardens and enjoy a special floral display in the dining room.

Hear the voices and stories of those who knew Brodsworth through historic photographs, new floral object displays and oral histories, and find out more about hidden areas of the gardens.

Pick up a family trail and enjoy exploring together.

Book advance tickets and save 15%

A colourful floral display laid out on a table at Brodsworth Hall.

A New Floral Display

Inspired by a Dutch painting in the collection – a copy of Flowers in a Terracotta Vase with Fruit and a Bird's Nest by Jan van Huysum – floristry students from Doncaster College have created a vibrant display of flowers, butterflies and birds’ nests to celebrate the painting.

The students have designed and built a sumptuous tablescape, including tulips, irises, roses and more. The display can be seen in the dining room alongside the painting, which has been rehung especially for this exhibition and lit to highlight the bold colours of the flowers.

Objects from the collection

From family watercolours and fashion accessories to greeting cards and calendars, many objects at Brodsworth feature flowers.

Take a look below at just some of the beautiful floral objects which will be featured.

Flowers in a Terracotta Vase with Fruit and a Bird’s Nest, Jan van Huysum (1682-1749), oil on canvas. Brodsworth’s painting is a later copy of Jan van Huysum’s original, which is at the National Gallery, London. Van Huysum was a celebrated still-life artist from Amsterdam.

Flowers in a Terracotta Vase with Fruit and a Bird’s Nest, Jan van Huysum (1682-1749), oil on canvas. Brodsworth’s painting is a later copy of Jan van Huysum’s original, which is at the National Gallery, London. Van Huysum was a celebrated still-life artist from Amsterdam.

Flowers in a Terracotta Vase with Fruit and a Bird’s Nest, Jan van Huysum (1682-1749), oil on canvas. Brodsworth’s painting is a later copy of Jan van Huysum’s original, which is at the National Gallery, London. Van Huysum was a celebrated still-life artist from Amsterdam.
Flowers in a Terracotta Vase with Fruit and a Bird’s Nest, Jan van Huysum (1682-1749) (after), oil on canvas. Brodsworth’s painting is a later copy of Jan van Huysum’s original, which is at the National Gallery, London. Van Huysum was a celebrated still-life artist from Amsterdam.
The Garden Room, by David Curtis, 1979. Oil on canvas. The painting was completed during a visit to Brodsworth by Doncaster Art Club.

The Garden Room, by David Curtis, 1979. Oil on canvas. The painting was completed during a visit to Brodsworth by Doncaster Art Club.

The Garden Room, by David Curtis, 1979. Oil on canvas. The painting was completed during a visit to Brodsworth by Doncaster Art Club.
The Garden Room, by David Curtis, 1979. Oil on canvas. The painting was completed during a visit to Brodsworth by Doncaster Art Club.
A skilled amateur artist, Sylvia Grant-Dalton often spent time sketching and painting flowers. Many of her watercolours remain at Brodsworth, including the selection shown here.

A skilled amateur artist, Sylvia Grant-Dalton often spent time sketching and painting flowers. Many of her watercolours remain at Brodsworth, including the selection shown here.

A skilled amateur artist, Sylvia Grant-Dalton often spent time sketching and painting flowers. Many of her watercolours remain at Brodsworth, including the selection shown here.
A skilled amateur artist, Sylvia Grant-Dalton often spent time sketching and painting flowers. Many of her watercolours remain at Brodsworth, including the selection shown here.
A black leather gilt bound photograph album dating back to 1870 - 1880, containing portraits of the Thellusson family, with each page illuminated by a different watercolour illustration of flowers. These illustrations are thought to be the work of Aline Thellusson, a gifted amateur artist. Occasionally a different artist’s hand is seen, so it could be a family collaboration.

A black leather gilt bound photograph album dating back to 1870 - 1880, containing portraits of the Thellusson family, with each page illuminated by a different watercolour illustration of flowers. These illustrations are thought to be the work of Aline Thellusson, a gifted amateur artist. Occasionally a different artist’s hand is seen, so it could be a family collaboration.

A black leather gilt bound photograph album dating back to 1870 - 1880, containing portraits of the Thellusson family, with each page illuminated by a different watercolour illustration of flowers. These illustrations are thought to be the work of Aline Thellusson, a gifted amateur artist. Occasionally a different artist’s hand is seen, so it could be a family collaboration.
A black leather gilt bound photograph album dating back to 1870 - 1880, containing portraits of the Thellusson family, with each page illuminated by a different watercolour illustration of flowers. These illustrations are thought to be the work of Aline Thellusson, a gifted amateur artist. Occasionally a different artist’s hand is seen, so it could be a family collaboration.
An oval gold, diamond and amethyst locket with floral decoration owned by Sylvia Grant-Dalton. The locket contains a photograph of her husband Charles. Sylvia and Charles were married for over 35 years and Sylvia continued to live in the hall for over 30 years after Charles’s death.

An oval gold, diamond and amethyst locket with floral decoration owned by Sylvia Grant-Dalton. The locket contains a photograph of her husband Charles. Sylvia and Charles were married for over 35 years and Sylvia continued to live in the hall for over 30 years after Charles’s death.

An oval gold, diamond and amethyst locket with floral decoration owned by Sylvia Grant-Dalton. The locket contains a photograph of her husband Charles. Sylvia and Charles were married for over 35 years and Sylvia continued to live in the hall for over 30 years after Charles’s death.
An oval gold, diamond and amethyst locket with floral decoration owned by Sylvia Grant-Dalton. The locket contains a photograph of her husband Charles. Sylvia and Charles were married for over 35 years and Sylvia continued to live in the hall for over 30 years after Charles’s death.
The fan, a single paper leaf mounted a l’Anglaise, is decorated with a Japanese style design. The fan was probably made in Japan, with the railway and retailer inscription supplied in England.

The fan, a single paper leaf mounted a l’Anglaise, is decorated with a Japanese style design. The fan was probably made in Japan, with the railway and retailer inscription supplied in England.

The fan, a single paper leaf mounted a l’Anglaise, is decorated with a Japanese style design. The fan was probably made in Japan, with the railway and retailer inscription supplied in England.
The fan, a single paper leaf mounted a l’Anglaise, is decorated with a Japanese style design. The fan was probably made in Japan, with the railway and retailer inscription supplied in England.
Two photoraphs side by side. On the left, there is a black and white photo taken in the 1930s of a gardener in a glasshouse, possibly pollinating peaches. The right image shows a gardener recreatiung the image in the modern greenhouse at Brodsworth.
© Left: Image by courtesy of the Jones family. Right: Dearne Valley Camera Club

Celebrating the Gardeners of Brodsworth

There are very few images of past Brodsworth gardeners. Photographers from nearby Dearne Valley Camera Club were invited to recreate some of these photos, to explore the contrast between gardeners from the past and present.

Displayed in the house, these portraits reveal how the lives, skills and stories of Brodsworth’s gardeners continue across generations.

The recreated images will be displayed alongside portraits of current garden staff and volunteers, as we celebrate the people who care for Brodsworth’s gardens today.