The historic landscape of Kew Gardens highlights features that exemplify important periods of the art of gardens from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Since their creation, Kew Gardens has made a significant contribution to the study of plant diversity and economic botany.

The first botanical garden was established back in Italy in 1545 when Venetian scholars and government officials implemented a botanical garden at the University of Padua, shortly after granting Francesco Bonafede's petition for the creation of a botanical garden back in 1543. Bonafede taught the 'lettura dei simplici,' or study of medicinal plants, and he recognized a need for the direct observation of nature in this branch of learning. 

Charles Dickens launched Household Words in March 1850, and it was soon selling 40,000 copies a week. The journals works covered varying topics of current affairs, as well as exploratory subjects of literature. Many of the stories went in without the authors name. 

The recent discovery of authors attachment to their works has been through Dicken's letters. 

Dickens' preface sets out his aspirations for Household Words:

Charles Dickens launched Household Words in March 1850, and it was soon selling 40,000 copies a week. The journals works covered varying topics of current affairs, as well as exploratory subjects of literature. Many of the stories went in without the authors name. 

The recent discovery of authors attachment to their works has been through Dicken's letters. 

Dickens' preface sets out his aspirations for Household Words: