1720 – John Ogilby’s map of the road from London to Derby (Darby) passes through Market Harborough (Haverborough). Each parish was responsible for maintaining its own section of the road, using materials extracted locally – including the Arboretum site. In 1726 an act of parliament established the section from Market Harborough to Loughborough as a turnpike. Tolls were collected for road maintainence.

1777 – the open fields were enclosed. This established field boundaries and Burnmill Road was laid out as a new carriage road. A parcel of land, which included the Arboretum site, was allocated to two of the joint Lords of the Manor. The land to the north, where the academy stands today, was allocated to the town charity.

1811 – Mr P O Adams is the owner of the Arboretum site, he was a Solicitor who had lived in the town since 1791. By 1811 he was living at The Poplars on Leicester road – opposite the Folly Pond, on Leicester road, and his estate stretched across to Burnmill road – shown superimposed on the 1885 OS map. His neighbour Mr W F Major owned The Elms (now Brooke House) and its estate.

1839 – John Wood published the first map of the town which shows the Arboretum moat as a feature.

1852 – Following the death of Mr Adams, The Poplars estate was sold to the de Capell Brooke family and incorporated into their estate.

1895 – Mr J W Newcome purchased the de Capell Brooke estate (including the Arboretum site) for building land.

1902 – Coales and Johnson, local Architects, drew up a plan for a housing estate on Mrs Copus’ land. This would have extended from Victoria Avenue, then owned by the Market Harborough Freehold Land Society, across to Burnmill Road and leaving the Arboretum site as a public open space.

1911 – Mr Hammond purchased land behind his house from Mrs Copus for his Arboretum. Photograph shows the tennis court at the rear of Mr Hammond’s house with the Arboretum beyond. The summer house was constructed by Mr Coales.

1913 – Mr Hammond planted the first trees in his Dell Park Arboretum. A Loggia was constructed – on the site of the present summer house.

1917 – Brick steps down to the moat were constructed – for access to the boat in which Mr Hammond took his guests around the moat. Seen here in 2004 after being uncovered during the restoration.

1932 – Mr Hammond planted a Korean Honeysuckle – one of our champion trees. Photographed at the foot of the marble steps leading from his garden to the tennis court, at the rear of his house.

1934 – Mr Hammond celebrated his 75th birthday. His brother Ralton gave him a Dawyck Beech as a present, which is now one of our champion trees.

1937 – Mr Hammond died in Market Harborough. The ownership of the Arboretum and his house (renamed Hammond House) passed to Leicestershire County Council, under the stewardship of the school.

1949 – School canteen built on Mr Hammond’s tennis court, to the east of the Arboretum. In the foreground are the marble steps and weeping ash – which survived from Mr Hammond’s time. Pictured in 1990

1958-62 – Houses built on Edward road, to the west of the Arboretum, and Park drive to the south. Photographed in 2019 from the rear of one of the properties on Edward road.

1992 – Mr George Marshall, then a biology teacher at the school, started an initiative to restore the Arboretum, following the sale of Hammond house. Volunteers started working in the Arboretum.

1997 – Tree labelling by Mrs Claycomb started, with reference to Mr Hammond’s planting books.

2002 – New paths, to improve access, and new fences, to improve security.

2009 – Following a visit by Owen Johnson from The Tree Register of Great Britain and Ireland, three trees were identified as being ‘best in Midlands’ and four as National champions.

2015 – Judges visiting the Arboretum as part of the Market Harborough in Bloom entry for ‘East Midlands in Bloom’ – the winners of the large town category in successive years.

2021 – Students at Robert Smyth Academy planted 1,200 trees in the school grounds. Assisted by volunteers from the Arboretum and Harborough Woodland.