The History of Mr Challis’s 1899 Lawn Sweeper
March 17, 2026 in Club News
We are all probably familiar with the early pony-drawn lawn mowers of the 19th century. These machines transformed the maintenance of large grounds, making the task of mowing more efficient and quicker.
Yet alongside these mowers were also pony-drawn lawn sweepers. These sweepers played an important role in keeping lawns around country houses immaculate, collecting clippings, leaves, and debris.
In the 1800s, pedestrian lawn and path sweepers were already being produced; more on those later. Also, horse-drawn sweepers could be found cleaning the streets of towns and cities; in 1869 The Bristol Waggon Works Company Limited were making street sweeping machines.
One lawn sweeper in particular, as illustrated below in colour, has an interesting history of development and some posh addresses:
Mr Challis’ sweeper starts with an earlier patent by another gardener. In early 1895, William Sutton, Clerk of Works at Petworth Park, Sussex, and Edwin Walter Pull, Head Gardener also at Petworth (I’ll refer to these gentlemen as Sutton & Pull) applied for a patent for ‘An Improved Lawn Sweeping and Collecting Machine’. This was the predecessor of, and similar to, Mr Challis’s shown in the colour image, but there is an early 1900s photo of an original sweeping machine at Woolverton Hall upon which all improvements were made.
When Sutton & Pull were working at Petworth Park, it was the residence of Lord Leconfield. It is now a National Trust property known as Petworth House and Park. Sussex. Petwork Park’s substantial lawns would be labour intensive, and with significant surrounding tree coverage with the usual autumn leaf fall, a lawn sweeper would be a sound idea.
Sutton & Pull’s 1895 sweeper had two 2’ 4” wheels, and two 9” wheels; all were made of iron. The large wheels powered a set of five adjustable revolving brushes within the rear drum. The brushes swept the debris into a collector at the front, which could be emptied by either being completely detached or by opening a lid….and therein lies the problem as it wasn’t easy to empty!
To make emptying easier, Mr Challis, the head gardener for the Earl of Pembroke at Wilton House, Salisbury, took Sutton & Pulls sweeper and created his own lawn sweeper design, he secured a patent in 1899. Contemporary articles state this certainly was an adaptation of Sutton & Pull’s earlier design, thus Challis’ new machine (as in the colour and black & white images) was a combination of his and theirs. The patent drawings show similarities. (See excerpt)
The modifications that Mr Challis made to Sutton & Pull’s sweeper enabled the leaves and general lawn debris to be ejected from the side of the collector once it was full. This meant that the operator didn’t have to stop, which sped up the sweeping process; adverts claimed ‘Remarkable saving of time. Reduction in amount of labour. Economy in cost of working’. One man with a lad, a light horse, and a 5’ sweeper was claimed to be able to clear a fifteen acre lawn in one day and save the labour of fourteen men.
The sweepers emptying improvement was two doors, with one at each end of the collector, and a pusher that slid within the collector. This device was connected to cables around a hand-operated wheel which opened the doors and moved the slider. It was ingenious if convoluted. I think the wheel and handle mechanism around which the cables pass is a bike wheel, as shown in the image.
The manufacturer was Mr Peter Buchan, Engineer, Caledonian Iron Works, Chichester. Mr Challis was available to give demonstrations at Wilton House.
Mr Challis’ improved lawn sweeper was advertised in several gardening magazines and had favourable reviews. Mr Challis was a talented gardener and had gardening correspondence in magazines, as well as judging shows and being knowledgeable in his field. However, it is unknown how many sweeping machines were sold, although they were still being advertised in 1915.
I wonder if any have survived the last one hundred years, or perhaps they all ended up as scrap when their use and pony power were no longer needed. The use of engine-powered machinery was creeping in, for example, in 1900 Thomas and William Coldwell applied for a British patent for a ‘self-propelled machine for rolling, mowing or sweeping lawns‘.
Pedestrian Lawn Sweepers
As mentioned, pedestrian-powered lawn sweepers were available earlier than Challis’ pony-drawn design; several featured in gardening magazines.
Well-known manufacturers were Thomas Green and Ransomes. Several patents included one by Thomas Green in 1878.
In 1890, John Lampitt and Co., engineers at the Vulcan Works, Banbury, were advertising a pedestrian lawn and path sweeper, as illustrated. This was the Davis Patent Lawn Sweeper. Four sizes of this machine were made. Apparently, they sold well and were in demand.
A simple design, the wheels rotated an internal brush and threw debris into a rear collector. The airflow also created suction, which aided the process.
The sweeper could collect in both wet and dry weather, and lift leaves, pine cones, sticks and stones. It could pick up leaves from gravel paths without disturbing the surface.
Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies Ltd, Orwell Works, Ipswich, were promoting two lawn sweepers in the mid-1890s. This again was the Davis Patent and was available from them in two sizes.
The smaller model, illustrated below on the left, had a sweeping width of 2′ with four brushes driven by a chain from a rear roller. It was intended to be used by two men with one pulling the machine and the other pushing.
The larger machine, illustrated on the right, was to be pulled by a pony or small horse. It was 5′ wide but had a 4′ sweeping width. It could be emptied by using the central lever to raise the collector.
Satisfied customers were the gardeners Mr Norman who worked for the Marquis of Salisbury at Hatfield, and Mr Taylor who worked for Lord De Saumares at Shrubland Park, Suffolk.
Landing on VHGMC subscribers doorsteps shortly will be the April issue of ‘The Cultivator’.
