About the name
Name. The rose is named after the 'Mary Rose' — the flagship of the English King Henry VIII, built in 1510 and sunk in 1545 in a battle in the Solent off Portsmouth against the French fleet. Raised from the seabed on 11 October 1982, after 437 years under water — one of the greatest events in the marine archaeology of the XX century. The name was chosen in cooperation with the Mary Rose Trust; the year the variety was bred coincided with the ship's raising.
Breeding. Bred by David C. H. Austin Sr. (1926–2018) at David Austin Roses (Albrighton, England), presented at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1983. Code AUSmary. Parentage: Wife of Bath × The Miller (both also varieties by David Austin; HMF notes 'Some differences of opinion about parentage' — there are alternative versions). 2 famous descendant sports: Winchester Cathedral (1988, white) and Redouté (1992, pale pink) — both registered by Austin.
Significance. ONE OF THE 3 FOUNDING PARENTS OF THE COMMERCIAL ENGLISH ROSES SERIES, together with Graham Thomas (AUSmas, yellow) and Wife of Bath (an earlier variety, a parent). The debut at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1983 is considered the starting point of the global popularity of English Roses. RHS AGM was not awarded to Mary Rose itself (a common myth!) — formally it is not in the RHS register. Ratings in Great Britain have consistently been high. Often confused with the historic ship Mary Rose, and with Mary, Queen of Scots (Scotch Rose XIX century). Winchester Cathedral and Redouté sports are sometimes sold as separate varieties without reference to the mother.