The Nottingham Story Behind Celery | Newdigate House & Marshal Tallard #Celery #Nottingham #History

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Believe it or not, there is a connection  between Newdigate House here in Nottingham, this fine building behind me, and celery.

[00:00:07]What?

[00:00:08]Yes. Back in 1704, after the Battle of Blenheim,  which we won, we took Marshal Tallard, who was the chap in charge, the military chap in charge,  a very noble chap, prisoner of war. And we brought him to Nottingham and allowed him to rent  this house along with his chef and his servants.

[00:00:29]He wasn’t sent to a horrible prison. No, he was treated like, well, a celebrity,  and he was invited to all the best parties.

[00:00:35]Anyway, Marshal Tallard loved  cooking and he loved gardening.

[00:00:40]In fact, he cultivated the garden  out the back and made it beautiful, and he also published a book about  bread and pastries in France.

[00:00:49]Anyway, he was out riding his  horse down on Lenton Marshes and he came across some wild celery growing.

[00:00:56]Now at the time in Britain, we only used celery  for medicinal purposes. People didn’t eat it then.

[00:01:02]But he thought, “I know,” because  in France they ate celery.

[00:01:07]He took some celery from there and  cultivated it in the back garden, and he grew it in such a way to get that lovely  sweet, savoury taste that we know and love now.

[00:01:17]And he brought in artisans as well, and taught them how to cook with celery  — soups and stews, that sort of thing.

[00:01:24]Anyway, he stayed in Nottingham for six  years and then he was set free in 1711.

[00:01:30]But his legacy of celery carried  on throughout the whole country.

[00:01:34]And so now, you know, we use celery  everywhere and thanks to Marshal Tallard.

[00:01:44]And there’s a plaque about  him on the wall there. Yay!

[00:01:48]So, another great thing to come out of  Nottingham, don’t you think? Woohoo!