S. Reynolds (Samuel Reynolds) Hole

Born in 1819, Samuel Reynolds Hole was an English churchman who later became Dean of Rochester. Alongside his religious career, he was especially admired as a gardener and writer, and he became one of the best-known champions of rose growing in Victorian England.

His books often brought those worlds together: faith, country life, gardening, and lively observation of character. That mix helped make his work appealing to readers beyond the church, especially anyone drawn to the rhythms of nineteenth-century English life.

Hole died in 1904, but he is still remembered both for his place in the Church and for the affection he inspired among gardeners. For many readers, his lasting charm lies in the way he wrote with knowledge, ease, and clear delight in the subjects he loved.