Constance Spry

The Constance Spry Archive
at RHS Lindley Library

RHS Lindley Library

Constance Spry was a pioneering floral designer who transformed the way flowers were used as decoration, from domestic settings, weddings and shop windows to great state events. This gallery of images comes from the Constance Spry Archive, which is part of the archival collections cared for by RHS Libraries.

The collection consists of thousands of individual items, including photographs of Spry and her work, catalogues and brochures promoting Constance Spry products, correspondence, scrap books, magazine and press cuttings, and other ephemera.

The collection came to the RHS as a number of donations from Constance Spry’s daughter in law and friends, and from the purchasers of the Spry trademark.

Photograph of Spry scraping mud off her shoes

Photograph of Spry scraping mud off her shoes. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Photograph of Spry scraping mud off her shoes. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Although Constance Spry did not start her professional career in floristry until the age of 41, her originality rapidly gained her high profile commissions, many of which are recorded in the archive.

Photograph of the workroom at the Marylebone floristry school.

Photograph of the workroom at the Marylebone floristry school. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of the workroom at the Marylebone floristry school. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

From the beginning, her approach was unconventional, combining commercially grown flowers with seed-heads, wildflowers and even vegetables. She scoured junk shops for unusual containers to hold her displays and collaborated with the Fulham Pottery to create custom-made vases to show off her creations.

She was an entrepreneur with a keen eye to her own ‘brand’ identity. She ensured that her influence was widely disseminated through her schools, broadcasts, lecture tours and books.

Page from an itinerary for a trip to the USA, 1939.

Page from an itinerary for a trip to the USA, 1939. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Page from an itinerary for a trip to the USA, 1939. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Morning Glory.

Photograph of Morning Glory. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Morning Glory. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

When she set up a small shop in Pimlico in 1929, she called it “Flower Decorations” to distinguish her work from the standard floral arrangements supplied by other florists.

The collection also includes hand-annotated photographs of her arrangements, thank you cards from grateful clients, material from her cookery and finishing schools and informal family photographs of Constance at home and in the garden. 

One of her most notable commissions was to provide the flowers and floral decorations for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the collection includes a thank you note from Wallis Simpson.

Click here to view our survey list of the
Constance Spry Archive on the Archives Hub.

Photograph of lime flowers in a wall basket.

Photograph of lime flowers in a wall basket. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of lime flowers in a wall basket. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry at home preparing vegetables.

Photograph of Constance Spry at home preparing vegetables. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry at home preparing vegetables. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Pages from a catalogue of Constance Spry vases.

Pages from a catalogue of Constance Spry vases. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Pages from a catalogue of Constance Spry vases. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Practicing floral headresses.

Practicing floral headresses. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Practicing floral headresses. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry in her garden.

Photograph of Constance Spry in her garden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry in her garden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a note from the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Christmas 1937.

Photograph of a note from the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Christmas 1937. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a note from the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Christmas 1937. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of an arrangement of chard leaves.

Photograph of an arrangement of chard leaves. Credit: Reginald Malby & Co. / RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of an arrangement of chard leaves. Credit: Reginald Malby & Co. / RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a display for a visit of the King of Sweden.

Photograph of a display for a visit of the King of Sweden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a display for a visit of the King of Sweden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Flower arrangements for a coronation dinner at Lancaster House, 4 June 1953.

Flower arrangements for a coronation dinner at Lancaster House, 4 June 1953. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Flower arrangements for a coronation dinner at Lancaster House, 4 June 1953. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Thank you note from Wallis Simpson, featuring a photograph taken by Cecil Beaton. Credit: © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive.

Thank you note from Wallis Simpson, featuring a photograph taken by Cecil Beaton. Credit: © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive.

Thank you note from Wallis Simpson, featuring a photograph taken by Cecil Beaton. Credit: © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive.

Photograph of a vase with hand- and typewritten annotations.

Photograph of a vase with hand- and typewritten annotations. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a vase with hand- and typewritten annotations. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Item 1 of 11
Photograph of lime flowers in a wall basket.

Photograph of lime flowers in a wall basket. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of lime flowers in a wall basket. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry at home preparing vegetables.

Photograph of Constance Spry at home preparing vegetables. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry at home preparing vegetables. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Pages from a catalogue of Constance Spry vases.

Pages from a catalogue of Constance Spry vases. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Pages from a catalogue of Constance Spry vases. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Practicing floral headresses.

Practicing floral headresses. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Practicing floral headresses. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry in her garden.

Photograph of Constance Spry in her garden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of Constance Spry in her garden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a note from the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Christmas 1937.

Photograph of a note from the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Christmas 1937. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a note from the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Christmas 1937. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of an arrangement of chard leaves.

Photograph of an arrangement of chard leaves. Credit: Reginald Malby & Co. / RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of an arrangement of chard leaves. Credit: Reginald Malby & Co. / RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a display for a visit of the King of Sweden.

Photograph of a display for a visit of the King of Sweden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a display for a visit of the King of Sweden. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Flower arrangements for a coronation dinner at Lancaster House, 4 June 1953.

Flower arrangements for a coronation dinner at Lancaster House, 4 June 1953. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Flower arrangements for a coronation dinner at Lancaster House, 4 June 1953. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Thank you note from Wallis Simpson, featuring a photograph taken by Cecil Beaton. Credit: © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive.

Thank you note from Wallis Simpson, featuring a photograph taken by Cecil Beaton. Credit: © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive.

Thank you note from Wallis Simpson, featuring a photograph taken by Cecil Beaton. Credit: © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive.

Photograph of a vase with hand- and typewritten annotations.

Photograph of a vase with hand- and typewritten annotations. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Photograph of a vase with hand- and typewritten annotations. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Created by RHS Lindley Library.

Based at the Royal Horticultural Society’s headquarters at Vincent Square in London, the Lindley Library holds a world-class collection of horticultural books, journals and botanical art.

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