Watercress has a long and unique history dating back to Roman times with historians reporting that Roman soldiers ate watercress to aid strength and stamina before battle.

Hippocrates, the ‘father’ of medicine was known to use watercress as a tonic and built his first hospital near the site of a stream, where he grew watercress, to aid the recovery of his patients.

Commercial cultivation started in the early 19th century in the south of the UK and predominantly in Hampshire and Dorset.

Grown for the large expanding population areas including London, was incidental in the success of the renowned ‘Watercress Railway’ line from Alresford town (prominent in watercress history).

‘Bunching’ of the watercress plant was the method of harvesting and transporting this aquatic plant and this page shows some fascinating images of the history of watercress.