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

Early life and education

Geddes was born in 1887. Her parents were Sir

Patrick Geddes Sir Patrick Geddes (2 October 1854 – 17 April 1932) was a British biologist, sociologist, Comtean positivist, geographer, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning ...

and Lady

Anna Geddes Anna, Lady Geddes ( Morton; 19 November 1857 – 9 June 1917) was an English social environmental activist, musician and partner in the work of Sir Patrick Geddes. During the marriage, she provided organizational and intellectual support to many ...

. Her childhood is described as "unconventional and peripatetic" and lacking conventional schooling in ''The New Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women''. She attended her father's botany course at the

University of Dundee The University of Dundee; . Abbreviated as ''Dund.'' for post-nominals. is a public university, public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a University college#United Kingdom, university college in 1881 with a donation ...

when she was just 14 before moving to the Edinburgh College of Art for drawing lessons.

Career

Both her parents worked extensively to improve conditions for the poor, and so Norah's first endeavour was to provide window box planting. She took a leading role in her father's Open Spaces project, which aimed to revive derelict urban plots with gardens and play areas. 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. In 1909, she opened White Hart Garden below Johnstone Gardens – the first in a series of spaces brought back to life by her designs. Geddes joined her father's Open Spaces Committee at the Outlook Tower and Camera Obscurer but was left frustrated with her scope of work in the role. Initially she contributed significantly to the planning and layout of the Royal Zoological Society Scotland Garden. 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. It had pet corners and promoted opportunities for education. Her part in this was overshadowed by those of her husband and her father. 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."

Personal life

Geddes met her husband

Frank Mears Sir Frank Charles Mears LLD (11 July 1880 – 25 January 1953) was an architect and Scotland's leading planning consultant from the 1930s to the early 1950s. Life and work Born in Tynemouth he moved to Edinburgh in 1897 when his father, Dr ...

in 1913. The couple lived in Ramsay Garden. Once married their eldest son, Kenneth, was born the following year; Alastair in 1918, and John two years later. Geddes's landscape gardening career was effectively over.

Notable works

* The Royal Zoological Society Scotland Garden * Chessel's Court, Edinburgh * Johnstone Terrace, Edinburgh * The West Port Garden, Edinburgh * A number of playgrounds in Dublin

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geddes, Norah 1887 births 1967 deaths Date of birth unknown Date of death unknown Artists from Edinburgh Scottish landscape architects Women landscape architects Alumni of the University of Dundee Scottish watercolourists