Margaret Rebecca Dickinson Gallery

Miss Margaret Rebecca Dickinson was a talented Victorian botanist and artist, active between the 1840s and 1870s, who collected and painted over a thousand British plants. This gallery features some 460 of her beautifully observed and executed watercolour illustrations.

The order of the images and information about when and where she collected her specimens is taken from the artist’s own herbarium catalogue which is also in the Natural History Society of Northumbria collection ( NEWHM : 2001.H236).

The Society also holds her original herbarium specimens from which these delightful drawings were taken.

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NEWHM : 2001.H239.1 Watercolour drawing of Brooklime Veronica beccabunga.

Initialled MRD and dated 1846. Collected in ditches near Prestwick Carr [near Ponteland, Northumberland].

Brooklime thrives in small streams and in shallow margins of ponds. Prestwick Carr, near Prestwick, east of Ponteland was mainly boggy ground, often wholly or partially covered with water. In the 1840s it would have been a rich haven for all kinds of wildlife including plants, insects and birds.

Prestwick Carr was drained for agricultural use in 1857. This was lamented by many as it had been the favourite haunt of the naturalists of Northumberland and Newcastle, including Margaret Dickinson.

(349 x 210mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.3 Watercolour drawing of Marsh Lousewort or Tall Red-rattle Pedicularis palustris.

Initialled MRD and dated 1846. Collected in a meadow near Otterburn [Northumberland].

This plant is native to Northumberland and is usually found on fens and hillside flushes.

(270 x 186mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.4 Watercolour drawing of Yellow Bedstraw Galium verum, now known as Lady's Bedstraw.

Initialled MRD. Collected in Cullercoats [then in Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear] in 1846.

This widespread plant prefers dry grassland, hedgebanks and sand dunes. Lady's Bedstraw, when dried, smells of new mown hay and its name probably derives from the old custom of including it in straw mattresses, and especially in the beds of women about to give birth.

(299 x 192mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.5 Watercolour drawing of the Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinale.

Initialled MRD. Collected in 1846, no site location recorded.

The Dandelion (the dent de lion or Lion's tooth) is every gardener's nightmare as one of the most prolific and difficult to eradicate weeds of lawn and border. However, colloquially known as wet-the-bed, the dried and ground up roots have been used for centuries as a natural herbal diuretic and laxative.

Children still love to blow on the fluffy seed heads to tell the time by the dandelion clock. The number of blows it takes to release all of the seeds gives the hour.

(319 x 207mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.6 Watercolour drawing of Biting Stonecrop or Wall Pepper Sedum acre.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Dinnington [Northumberland] in 1846.

This native plant is found on dry banks, walls, rocks and sand dunes.

(224 x 164mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.7 Watercolour drawing of the Common Primrose Primula vulgaris.

Initialled MRD. Collected in Otterburn [Northumberland] in 1846.

This well known harbinger of spring, flowering in early March, is found widespread in woodland glades, hedge banks and banks of streams.

Primroses were traditionally picked at Easter to decorate churches and they were used to decorate paste or Pace eggs on Good Friday. Eggs were wrapped in onion peelings, primrose and gorse flowers then hard-boiled ready for egg rolling on Easter Sunday or Monday.

(231 x 162mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.8 Watercolour drawing of Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Wetheral [then in Cumberland, now in Cumbria] in 1846.

This plant is restricted to grazed calcareous grassland or old limestone quarries.

(366 x 217mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.9 Watercolour drawing of Water Avens Geum rivale.

Initialled MRD. Collected in Otterburn [Northumberland] in 1846.

This beautiful plant, native to Northumberland, is found in damp woods, by streams and ditches and in wet meadows.

(295 x 195mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.10 Watercolour drawing of Scabious Scabiosa succisa, now known as Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Tynemouth [then in Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear] in 1846.

Widespread in the North East, preferring damp meadows and pastures, wet rock ledges and the edges of woods. Colloquially known as Bobby bright buttons.

(406 x 211mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.11 Watercolour drawing of Sea rocket Cakile maritima.

Signed MRD. Collected at Cullercoats sands [then in Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear] in 1846.

Very localised to sand or shingle all along the North East coast.

(285 x 186mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.12 Watercolour drawing of the Yellow Iris or Corn flag Iris pseudoacorus.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Dinnington Lane [near Ponteland, Northumberland] in 1846.

Native to Northumberland, this plant frequents marshes, ponds and lakes, flowering from mid-May. With its bright yellow flowers and blade-like leaves this is one of the characteristic plants of wetlands.

(437 x 272mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.13 Watercolour drawing of Flax Linum catharticum, now known as Fairy Flax.

Initialled MRD. Collected in Cullercoats [then in Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear] in 1846.

Frequently found in grassland, heaths and sand dunes. Also known as Purging Flax, this plant was crushed and infused in white wine to provide a mild laxative as noted in John Gerard's Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantesl, 1633.

(231 x 158mm on a support 445 x 271mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.14 Watercolour drawing of Common Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris, now known more simply as Marsh-marigold, also as Kingcup.

Signed M R Dickinson. Although there is a pencil inscription Wetheral on the drawing, the manuscript herbarium catalogue suggests that the plant was collected in Dinnington Lane [near Ponteland, Northumberland] in 1846.

This plant with its bright yellow flowers can be seen in early May and is very widespread in marshes, fens, wet woods and streamsides.

(445 x 268mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.15 Watercolour drawing of Lady's Smock Cardamine pratensis, also known as Cuckooflower.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Otterburn [Northumberland] in 1846.

Native to Northumberland and very widespread in damp meadows and pastures by streams; the Cuckooflower with its pretty, very pale pink to mauve flowers is usually in flower in May in the North of England.

(318 x 195mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.17 Watercolour drawing of Scarlet Pimpernel or Poor Man's weatherglass Anagallis arvensis.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in fields near Tynemouth [then in Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear] in 1846.

A common and widespread annual found in cultivated fields, gardens and sand dunes. This plant earned its name Poor Man's weatherglass from its habit of opening its petals at about 8am and closing them at two in the afternoon or if the weather turned wet or dull.

(291 x 190mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.18 Watercolour drawing of Purple Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre, now known more simply as Marsh Cinquefoil Potentilla palustris.

Initialled MRD. Collected in Dinnington Lane [near Ponteland, Northumberland] in 1846.

Found in marshes, fens, bogs, by the side of lakes or ponds.

(348 x 203mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.19 Watercolour drawing of Common birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, now written as Common Bird's-foot-trefoil.

Initialled MRD. Collected in Tynemouth [then in Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear] in 1846.

Very widespread in meadows, pastures, road verges and established sand dunes. In flower for much of the summer this plant has attracted a number of odd names over the years Butter and eggs, Hen and chicks, Fingers and thumbs and even Granny's toenails referring in some cases to the bright yellow colour and in others the shape of the flowers.

(239 x 160mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.20 Watercolour drawing of the Early Purple Orchis Orchis mascula, now known as the Early-purple Orchid.

Initialled MRD. Collected in a bog near Otterburn [Northumberland] in 1846.

This handsome plant with its spike of purple flowers usually appears in early spring in woods and grassland.

(330 x 208mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.21 Watercolour drawing of Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys.

Initialled MRD. Collected in Dinnington lane [near Ponteland, Northumberland] in 1846.

This wildflower, which is very widespread and found in hedgebanks and road verges, has bright blue flowers with white centres. Speedwells are plants found on the side of the road which speed you on your journey and they were sometimes sewn on to the clothes of travellers for good luck.

(285 x 201mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.22 Watercolour drawing of Water Speedwell Veronica Anagallis, now known as Blue Water-speedwell Veronica anagallis-aquatica.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near York in 1847.

Confined to lowlands this plant is found in streams, ditches and ponds.

(332 x 175mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.23 Watercolour drawing of Ramping Fumitory Fumaria capreolata, now known as White Ramping Fumitory.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near Scarbro [Scarborough, Yorkshire] in 1847.

Found in hedgerows, cultivated and waste ground.

(266 x 194mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.24 Watercolour drawing of Common Shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris, now known more simply as Shepherd's-purse.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near Scarbro [Scarborough, Yorkshire] in 1847.

Extremely common on cultivated and waste ground and by roadsides. Shepherd's purse get its common name from the heart shaped seed pods which resembled the pouches, hung from the belts of medieval peasants which they used to keep their valuables in.

(369 x 186mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.25 Watercolour drawing of Common Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale, now known more simply as Hedge Mustard.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near York in 1847.

This common annual, flowering from May to September, is frequently found in hedgebanks, road verges, waste and arable ground growing to about two feet tall with clusters of small yellow flowers.

(342 x 201mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.27 Watercolour drawing of Common chickweed Stellaria media.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in a garden at York in 1847.

Very widespread and abundant as a weed of arable land and gardens. It gets its common name from its use as a valuable additional source of food for poultry and cage-birds.

(233 x 163mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.28 Watercolour drawing of Dwarf Mallow Malva rotundifolia. The probable modern identification is either Small Mallow M. pusilla or Dwarf Mallow M. neglecta.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Acomb Road, York in 1847.

(298 x 203mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.29 Watercolour drawing of Common Perforated St John's wort Hypericum perforatum, now known as Perforate St John's-wort.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Acomb Road, York in 1847.

Frequently found on road verges, woodland glades, hedge banks and grassland. Over the years St John's-wort has been used in a number of applications for various ailments but can now be found in health stores sold in tablet form as a mild antidepressant.

(350 x 199mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.30 Watercolour drawing of Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense, now written as Meadow Crane's-bill.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in fields near York in 1847.

Flowering from June to September this pretty blue plant, the forerunner of many of our garden varieties, can be found brightening up our meadows and road verges.

(440 x 264mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.31 Watercolour drawing of Shining Cranesbill Geranium lucidum, now written as Shining Crane's-bill.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near Cirencester [GloucestershireΣ in 1848.

Commonly found on shady banks or walls on acid soil, this plant earns its name from its shiny leaves.

(234 x 181mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.32 Watercolour drawing of Long stalked Cranesbill Geranium columbinum, now written as Long-stalked Crane's-bill.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Earl Bathurst's Park, Cirencester [GloucestershireΣ in 1848. [Miss Dickinson was referring to Cirencester Park, a 10,000 acre park, part of the estate of Lord Bathurst, sections of which are still open to the public for walking and riding.]

Found mainly on dry calcareous soils.

(260 x 173mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.33 Watercolour drawing of Wood Avens Geum urbanum, also known as Herb Bennet.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in York in 1847.

A common wildflower found in woods, hedge banks and road verges. The common name Herb Bennet is a corruption of the medieval Latin herba benedicta, which translates as 'the blessed herb'.

(348 x 217mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.34 Watercolour drawing of Common Tormentilla Tormentilla officinalis, now known as Tormentil Potentilla erecta.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Hobs mire, York in 1847.

This low growing perennial has small four-petalled flowers and is commonly found on acidic grassland and heaths.

(291 x 183mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.35 Watercolour drawing of Common Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, now known as Great Burnet .

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near York in 1847.

Commonly found in damp grassland, meadows and road verges.

(439 x 266mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.36 Watercolour drawing of Rose-bay Willow herb Epilobium angustifolium now known as Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium.

Signed MR Dickinson. Collected in Earl Bathhurst's park, Cirencester [Gloucestershire] in 1848. [Miss Dickinson was referring to Cirencester Park, a 10,000 acre park, part of the estate of Lord Bathurst, sections of which are still open to the public for walking and riding.]

Although this easily recognised and prolific wildflower, sometimes known as the railway flower or bombweed, is now well known, in 1848 it would have been regarded as a garden plant which occasionally escaped into the wild.

It started to spread, at a phenomenal rate, after World War I, invading areas of woodland felled for timber during the war and continued to spread during WW2 covering bomb sites in the south in waves of purple. In the 1950s the plant spread further afield via railway embankments.

(372 x 220mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.37 Watercolour drawing of Great hairy Willow herb Epilobium hirsutum now known more simply as Great Willowherb.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Hob's Mire, York in 1847.

Commonly found near stream banks, ponds and ditches. Wallis (1769) said it was usually called Codlings and Cream, from the smell of the leaves, like Apples and Cream.

See also NEWHM : 2001.H239.038.

(442 x 267mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.38 Watercolour drawing of White variety [of Great Willowherb] Epilobium hirsutum.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near Cirencester [Gloucestershire] in 1848.

See also NEWHM : 2001.H239.037.

(340 x 184mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.39 Watercolour drawing of Broad smooth leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum, now known more simply as Broad-leaved Willowherb.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near York in 1847.

A common wildflower found in woods, hedgerows, waste ground, rocks and as a garden weed.

(320 x 209mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.40 Watercolour drawing of Enchanters nightshade Circaea lutetiana, now written as Enchanter's-nightshade.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Earl Bathhurst's park, Cirencester [Gloucestershire] in 1848. [Miss Dickinson was referring to Cirencester Park, a 10,000 acre park, part of the estate of Lord Bathurst, sections of which are still open to the public for walking and riding.]

Found in damp woods and hedge banks this plant is quite a unassuming member of the willowherb family. It derives its name from Circe the enchantress who turned Ulysses' crew into pigs in Homer's Odyssey. The Anglo Saxons believed it to have magical properties.

(363 x 165mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.41 Watercolour drawing of Spiked purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, now known more simply as Purple-loosestrife.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Watermoor, Cirencester [Gloucestershire] in 1848.

This plant with its tall spikes of purple flowers is a common wildflower of river margins, ponds, lakes and marshes.

(359 x 203mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.42 Watercolour drawing of Red berried Bryony Bryonia dioica, now known as White Bryony.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected near York in 1847.

Found in hedgerows and sand dunes. Originally cultivated as a medicinal herb this plant is extremely poisonous. The most toxic part is the root but the berries, which turn from green to bright red in the winter, are also dangerous. Small portions of the root were used as a purgative or as a treatment for boils and other skin complaints.

(440 x 271mm) NEWHM : 2001.H239.43 Watercolour drawing of Orpine or Live-long Sedum telephium.

Signed M R Dickinson. Collected in Harrowgate road near York in 1847.

Found on hedge banks, road verges and walls.

(299 x 197mm)

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