Gardening Expert David Hessayon Leaves £4.7 Million Legacy

David Hessayon, renowned as the world’s best-selling gardening author, passed away at the age of 96 in January 2023, leaving an estate valued at £4.7 million for his family. Known for his comprehensive guides, which have sold an astonishing 67 million copies globally, Hessayon’s work has made its mark in countless homes, with estimates suggesting that half of all British households own at least one of his manuals.

Details of the Estate

Probate documents reveal that Hessayon’s estate was initially valued at £4,907,926. After expenses, this amount was adjusted to £4,740,925. The will, drawn up in 2019, specifies that the fortune will be shared between his daughters, Angelina and Jacqueline Hessayon. Each of his four grandchildren is set to receive cash gifts of £70,000, while his long-term assistant, Gillian Jackson, will receive £250,000. Additionally, £70,000 is earmarked for his son-in-law.

Hessayon was also the owner of a 25-room Georgian mansion in Halstead, Essex, set on 27 acres that housed around 10,000 plants he extensively wrote about. Even in his 90s, he continued to tend to his roses and shrubs, which friends believed contributed to his remarkable health.

A Life Dedicated to Gardening

Born in Salford, Greater Manchester, Hessayon was the youngest of seven children. He assisted his Cypriot father, Jack Hessayon, a watchmaker, in cultivating a garden that reminded them of their homeland. Tragically, his mother, Lena, passed away when he was just four years old.

Hessayon’s educational journey included attending Salford Grammar School before studying botany and chemistry at Leeds University. He later earned a PhD in soil science from Manchester University. His first illustrated guide, *Be Your Own Gardening Expert*, was published in 1959, and over the next six decades, he authored more than 50 additional guides covering a wide array of gardening topics.

He once described his book series as catering to “the housewife who isn’t really interested in gardening but feels she must keep the garden nice or the neighbours will talk.” His straightforward, expert advice made gardening accessible to many.

Hessayon was candid about his views on gardening television shows, remarking that “people just tune in to see whether the presenter is wearing a bra or not.” His insightful, often humorous commentary set him apart in the gardening community.

In 1949, he met his wife, Joan Hessayon, in Paris. Following their marriage, he relocated to Missouri to work for her father’s newspaper, later becoming managing director of Pan Britannica Industries, known for producing Baby Bio fertiliser. Joan, who wrote romantic novels, passed away in 2001, leading Hessayon to establish the Joan Hessayon Award to support new writers in her genre.

David Hessayon’s legacy as a gardening authority will continue to influence generations of gardening enthusiasts, ensuring that his contributions to the field are not forgotten.