The Gardens of Westminster Abbey (Scala 2018)
A personal guide to the Abbey’s gardens and greenspaces, reflecting on its history, choice of plants and wildlife. While Jan was Head Gardener she recorded the changing garden.
Some of her innovations included bringing a monastic element back to the garden in the form of herbs, fruit trees and vegetables. Illustrated with Jan’s paintings and photos.
Brother William’s Year (Frances Lincoln 2009)
Picture Book about the life of a medieval gardening monk, exploring the theme of seasonal work in the garden and the spiritual life at Westminster Abbey in 1383.
Reviews for Brother William’s Year:
The pages burst with colour and charm – Church Times
A luminous delight – The Ultimate Book Guide
This attractive picture book captures the rhythm of a monastery year – Booklist
The Little Angel (Random House 1999)
Christmas story describing a young angel’s journey to earth where she has important work to do.
Illustrated in line and watercolour.
The Twelve Poodle Princesses (Random House 1994) A re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses with vain poodle princesses and a valliant mongrel in search of his fortune.
Illustrated in line and watercolour.
Media
Behind Closed Doors’ Westminster Abbey: Channel 5, 2022
In one episode, Jan takes visitors on a tour of the gardens
Talk on the Abbey Gardens (June 2021)
Illustrated talk on YouTube (courtesy of The Thorney Island Society)
The Smithsonian Magazine, (March edition 2023).
Interview with writer Peter Ross, award-winning author of ‘Chasing Steeples’
This Morning (ITV 2011)
with Diarmuid Gavin in St Catherine’s Chapel Garden
Songs of Praise (BBC) discussing the spiritual value of the garden to a monastery