Description

The name “Spring Grove” originates from the name of a house built by Sir John Offley in 1645 just north of the Great Western Road (now the London Road), which was the main Turnpike from London to Bath. The house was leased in 1780 to the eminent botanist and explorer Sir Joseph Banks after his voyage to the South Pacific on The Endeavour with Captain James Cook. In 1791 he also rented land around the house and purchased the house and estate in 1808.A strain of apple called “Spring Grove Codlin” was named by Banks. It was first produced by Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight (1759 – 1838) and was extensively cultivated at Spring Grove.