Casgliadau Arlein

Autochrome colour transparency of roses in the Castle gardens at St Fagans.

The gardens at St Fagans Castle were a hive of activity during the First World War. Although many of the estate staff had been drafted into the army, the formal gardens were maintained throughout the War years, thanks in part to the efforts of William Charles Mundy. In addition to his role as Assistant Commandant of the St Fagans Red Cross Hospital, Mundy also took over from the Head Gardener, Hugh Allan Pettigrew, who had left his post to serve with the Welch Horse Yeomanry. He captured the gardens in full bloom in a series of glass plate autochromes – one of the earliest forms of coloured photography.