Mary Bristow on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Mary Bristow of Quidenham Hall, Norfolk (??? - 1805) was best known for developing and designing the woodland, known as Miss Bristow’s Wood, from the agricultural land surrounding 
Following Bristow's death in 1805, Elyza Fraser erected a granite monument which stands in the grounds of Castle Fraser, bearing the inscription: Sacred to the memory of a friendship which subsisted over 40 years, Elyza Fraser erects this monument in the groves planted by her lamented friend.
Mary Bristow of Quidenham Hall, Norfolk (??? - 1805) was best known for developing and designing the woodland, known as Miss Bristow’s Wood, from the agricultural land surrounding Castle Fraser
Castle Fraser is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar'. It is located near Kemnay in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. The castle stands in over of landscaped grounds, woodland and farmland ...
she was also known as the close friend of Elyza Fraser (the lady laird of Castle Fraser 1734-1814). Together they spent more than £9,600 (over £500,000 today) between 1797 and 1800, following the fashion set by Elyza’s neighbour, Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk.
Bristow spent many years as the companion of Elyza Fraser at Castle Fraser. She first met Fraser in Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
on 18 June 1781 and the two women travelled extensively through Europe, both separately and together. This may have been due in part to Mary's ill health. Both women had an interest in gardening and kept a notebook of visits to great gardens. She also played the keyboard, and dueted with Fraser, who played the violin.
Highly cultured ladies, they travelled through Europe together. Their portraits hang in the castle. Bristow acquired several books on landscape design, which remain in the castle library along with examples of her embroidery in the Castle's Worked Room.
Following Bristow's death in 1805, Elyza Fraser erected a granite monument which stands in the grounds of Castle Fraser, bearing the inscription: Sacred to the memory of a friendship which subsisted over 40 years, Elyza Fraser erects this monument in the groves planted by her lamented friend.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bristow, Mary 1781 births 1805 deaths People from Quidenham British landscape architects British embroiderers