Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
From a young age Harmer was an active member of the Norwich Geological
Society and in 1864 met the geologist Searles V. Wood Jun. (1830-1884). Harmer
was a founder member of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, was its
president 1877-1879 and subsequently a vice-president. He was also a member of
the Norfolk & Norwich Horticultural Society.
He was a member of the council and elected a Fellow of the Geological Society
of London, 1896-1900; awarded the Murchison Medal, 1902; a member of the
council of the Palaeontographical society, 1878-1882 and 1905-1906 and in 1918
was awarded an Honorary M.A. by the University of Cambridge (Fig.
2.3
). He was
also a member of several geological societies in mainland Europe.
Harmer became an authority on the geology of East Anglia. Through his
geological studies he became a pioneer of palaeometeorology and was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society.
Following their move from the city to Cringleford, Harmer and his wife joined
the congregation of the Parish Church, St Peter's where, for a number of years, he
acted as honorary organist—a man truly of many talents. Harmer also took an
active role in the village life of Cringleford and was chairman of the Parish
Council for 20 years. He was president of the Patteson Club in the village and was
probably instrumental in the Cringleford Horticultural Society coming into exis-
tence as a section of the Patteson Club. In the 1920s, it was customary for the
Annual Show of the Society to be held in a garden of one of the larger properties.
Harmer gave permission for the third show to be held in the grounds of Oakland
House. This event was planned to be more ambitious than on previous occasions
with the Red Cross Band being engaged to play, and tents and tables hired for the
Bank Holiday Monday but, unfortunately, it apparently poured with rain during the
afternoon!.
Behind the house sloping down to the river Yare were several acres of open
ground which Harmer developed into a large walled garden containing a conser-
vatory, greenhouse and vinery. The central feature of the garden, known as 'the
park', was an avenue of ancient oak trees after which the property was named. The
'wild' part of the garden was particularly beautiful in the spring when massed
clusters of flowers such as snow flakes and daffodils were in bloom. There was also
a water garden with an iron gate leading onto a bridge: a water feature in this part
was an important and practical ornament since it provided ice for the icehouse.
Alongside the river there were water meadows and a wild waterlogged alder carr
which Frederic drained and planted with bulbs (Fig.
2.4
).
