At the recent March meeting of Thurrock Local History Society members and guests welcomed author and journalist Sandra Lawrence when she gave us an illustrated talk on Ellen Willmott, telling the extraordinary tale of her life and gardens.

She went about sprinkling seeds and there were outrageous stories about her.

She was once one of the most famous people in the world. She was born in 1858, dying in 1934 and came from a very wealthy family.

She was spoilt by her godmother who gave her a cheque for £1.000 on her birthdays (now £20,000). She was not told how to deal with money and ended up bankrupt.

She created a garden at Warley Place near Brentwood, where she lived, transforming the grounds.

Aged 21 she became really interested in alpine gardens, importing several tons of Derbyshire stone for a grotto and pond. There were formal lawns, a wild garden, walled garden and hothouses, always changing the vista. Warley is on a steep hill with woodland, lake and roses, her love. She also bought and created a garden in France and Italy.

Sandra had visited Warley as a child and was enchanted by how overgrown it was, like a secret garden.

Ellen Willmott was single, childless, with no-one to hand her gardens to when she died. Involving the National Trust and the RHS was not possible, and did not happen. They went to her nephew who owned Spetchley Park and Berkeley Castle. Warley was sold by auction over ten days, the house demolished in 1939. Captain Berkeley took over and all her paperwork, photographs etc. were put in the cellar, followed by furniture etc. in WW2 when the American Air Force took over Spetchley Park.

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In 1978 Audrey le Lievre, an historian interested in women's history, tracked Ellen Willmott's work and wrote her biography. For her book (Miss Willmott's Ghosts), Sandra Lawrence invited stories from those who knew her.

She wrote letters and received replies. More trunks turned up at Berkeley Castle but some were not logged and not available to search. Sandra has contacted all and sundry for any connection, Warley Place volunteers helping with some information. Some of the material in trunks was in shreds and mouldy – too much to photograph in the time allotted. Much paperwork has disintegrated, a mess. There were diaries, music, letters from famous people, including one from Empress Maria Theresa dated 1771, also watercolours and catalogues.

Ellen had travelled extensively. About 10,000 photographic glass plates were found initially, now 20,000 have been found, including a lantern slide collection. Boxes are still being checked, some remaining locked. There were also medals, a rose bowl and a dressing case.

Miss Willmott was involved in founding the women's land army and was part of the committee to save Hampton Court Palace gardens. She was also Involved in landscaping Shakespeare's garden and Ann Hathaways's cottage in Stratford.

Work is still ongoing, looking at the contents of the trunks, some of her personal possessions still turning up. This is an exciting project, not knowing what will turn up next – a journey.

Sandra brought us the story of a wonderful life, encouraging us to visit Warley Place, now a nature reserve run by Essex Wildlife Trust, to see what the volunteers are doing.

The society's next meeting is at 7.30pm on Friday 17 April, at St John's Church Hall, Victoria Avenue, Grays, when the AGM will be followed by a talk from Mike Tarbard, chairman of Bata Heritage. Visitors are welcome.