Dr Dianne Barre read history at Exeter University, followed by a research MA at Birmingham University. She worked in university adult education and taught sixteenth to eighteenth-century architectural and garden history. After retiring she completed a PhD at Bristol University, co-authored a book on Staffordshire’s Historic Gardens, and published _Historic Parks and Gardens of Derbyshire_ in 2017\. She has also published articles in _Garden History_ and _The Georgian Group Journal_. Like Mrs Hervey she is an enthusiastic hands-on gardener and visitor to country gardens and houses, and also enjoys visiting other people’s gardens.