The History of Beaminster; Mr. Gardner was a classical scholar, and also an astronomer of some repute. In 1872 he published a small volume of Poems, several being of local interest.

But he is mentioned in the verses;

Our friend Mr Gardner sat on his lawn
With his telescope raised in the air,
To look at the stars as they floated along
For the evening was lovely and fair.

All at once he beheld an unusual light
And expected a meteor to see,
But the flames rose still higher, and the people cried, "Fire!"
"Oh dear, what's the matter?" said he.