Cants of Colchester

Cants of Colchester was a firm of commercial rose growers, and was the oldest in Britain at the time of its closure in 2023.

The nursery, 'Benjamin R Cant & Sons', was located in Mile End, now a northern suburb of Colchester.

The rivalry between the two nurseries lasted until the 1960s, when their descendants decided to merge the two family businesses into one company.

[4] The company remained in the family until its closure in September 2023,[5] with a 1,600 housing development built on the business’ former rose growing fields.

Frank Kant and Company developed several successful rose varieties from the turn of the century through the 1920s, including 'Blush Queen' (1916), 'Yvonne' (1920) and 'Henry Nevard' (1924).