Vicary Gibbs was born into a wealthy family and succeeded in the family banking business, allowing him to indulge his passion for collecting the new plants being discovered at the time. He continued the development of the garden at Aldenham House in Elstree, Hertfordshire, that his father had started, creating a private botanical garden with an extensive collection of trees and shrubs. Both Vicary Gibbs and his head gardener, Edwin Beckett, became famous horticulturalists in their lifetimes. Their contribution was recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), each receiving an award of the Victoria Medal of Honour. In addition, Gibbs was appointed vice-president of the society in 1924, and Beckett received the Silver Veitch Memorial Medal in 1930. When Gibbs died he had no children to continue the legacy of his garden and there were no other family members able to take on the house and gardens, and no charity to save it for the nation. The best specimens in the tree and shrub collection were dug up after being sold in a grand auction in the autumn of 1932. This paper reassesses the horticultural achievements of Gibbs and his head gardener.