Medicinal and Monastic Herb Gardens

In Europe, the Christian church adopted a small enclosed garden style known as the ‘paradise’ from the Middle East, and built them to their own design, either round or semi-circular, adjoining their monastic churches and cathedrals. Although the garden itself has disappeared, the fifteenth-century doorway to the paradise garden at Winchester Cathedral is still standing. Normally, the paradise garden was in the care of the sacrist who grew sacred flowers and plants there for decorating the altar and the church on feast days.