Having worked in some of the country’s finest gardens, Henry made Chatham his home in 1868, bringing with him all his knowledge of flowers and plants to town. He set up a nursery at the top of Albany Road, where he lived, and opened a shop with a greenhouse above at 2 High Street, selling a variety of flowers and seeds. He also helped amateur gardening groups and judged several competitions, and represented Luton as a ward councillor for six years.