Our History

KNIGHTS garden centres began in a very modest way. This family-run business began life back in the early 1940’s when Charles ‘Jack’ Knight rented a cottage and gardens at Nag’s Hall, Godstone. The business had now started and began by supplying local retailers with quality fruit, vegetables and flowers. With hard work and commitment by two sons Brian and David the business continued to develop and as Jack passed in 1961 he left a thriving business to be continued by his family.

In 1970 Rosedene Nursery in Woldingham was purchased which at the time was an established herbaceous nursery. At this time growing plants in pots, as opposed to growing them directly in the ground, revolutionised the industry and our nurseries quickly evolved into garden centres. In 1989 we purchased the neighbouring property to our Woldingham garden centre, a beautiful Georgian house, which became our Dene coffee shop. We were now able to extend the garden centre but also move into the catering profession and landscape the grounds around the Dene.

In 1993 we bought our Chelsham Place branch in Warlingham, a derelict site to start with but we soon had a modern garden centre built, which was officially opened by actress Susan Hampshire. This branch has matured well over the years giving us the opportunity to develop our garden building and pet departments.

Both Brain and David now had family in the business and it was with the announcement of Brian’s retirement in 2003, that the business was reformed in a different structure. David Knight and his family were now in full control of our Woldingham and Warlingham branches.