Physic being Greek for ‘Body’ I think belies the garden’s supposed usage. Ornamental, rather than functional. It is called the ‘William Ransom Physic Garden’ after the 19th Century Millionaire Hitchin Physician and Chemist, William Ransom, who founded the pharmaceutical chemist in Bancroft (Which is now Sainsbury’s and the new Lavendar Fields apartments); and is laid out with plants and herbs that the 17th Century Herbaslist Nicholas Culpeper might have used medicinally too.

The garden was opened by Prof Harold Ellis on 20th May 1990 after the land was given over from Hitchin Museum that lies immediately to it’s west. It opens daily as part of the Hitchin Museum Experience and is a wonderful haven of tranquility. Note worthy is the Bronze/Brass sundial that has been made to resemble a Physican’s/Herbalist’s/Chemist’s Mortar and Pestle. Art using form to immitate function. A nice touch I think.