John Tradescant's Ark - England's 1st Museum

John Tradescant (1570 - 1638)

In 1626 Tradescant, a famous Gardener, leased a house in Lambeth where he displayed 'all things strange and rare'

These included:

• A piece of the True Cross

• The Vegetable Lamb
• the hand of a mermaid
• the Claw of the bird Rock, who as authors report, is able to trusse an elephan
• A brazen ball to warme the nunness hands
• Blood that rained in the Isle of White

John Tradescant the Younger ran the Ark after his father's death and went on a collecting trip to America.