This worldfamous garden was designed by henry hoare ii as a series of carefully. When we did the tour of the manor house a gentle, but steady rain was coming down, but after the manor tour was over and we headed out to. There are numerous attractions to visit within the 2,650acre estate including a palladian mansion, the village of stourton, alfreds tower and of course stourhead garden itself. London to stourhead gardens 2 ways to travel via train. The diverse history and culture of the uk makes england vacations ideal. This essential guide selects the best gardens throughout britain and ireland, from immense landscaped parks. The garden is a tranquil place to sit, relax and immerse yourself in 300 years of history. We recommend booking stourhead house and garden tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Welcome to, a website dedicated to the printed history of gardens, landscape architecture, early horticulture and all related subjects.
Lying in secluded privacy in its own valley, stourhead in wiltshire features one of the worlds finest landscape gardens making it perfect for a fantastic day out. Stourhead, a site of c 331ha, lies north of the a303 between wincanton and mere in a rural area. Beautiful, but not for dogs stourhead house and garden. Stourhead landscape garden national trust guidebooks. Her books include the gardens of portugal italian gardens. Stourhead was one of the first country villas to be built in the new palladian style. The gardens were designed by henry hoare ii and laid out between 1741 and 1780 in a. Stourhead is an estate at the source of the river stour near mere, wiltshire, england. Stourhead gardens a stunning english landscape garden by henry hoare 11 in the mid 1800s. To the east of the new house was a railed forecourt with an oval lawn, and walled gardens were laid out to its south. Stourhead in wiltshire, sits in its own valley and is one of the finest landscape gardens in the world. Dec 04, 2008 the pantheon appears like a 3d image with a foreground of laurel so important in the 18th century.
Kilver court gardens was first created by ernest jardine, mp of east somerset, in 1880 and established what was known as jardines park, using the mill ponds as a boating lake and the surrounding gardens for the workers recreation. Emma l 1 year ago stourhead garden is my favourite place in the world a magical fantasy landscape nestled in its own. Inside, you will find invaluable practical advice from real gardeners, plantspeople and designers. The stourhead park was created in a luxuriant valley, which flitcroft made into a lake with a path around it that provided a sequence of picturesque views and encounters with temples, statuary, springs and grotto, all involving layers. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The british passion for gardens and gardening stretches back hundreds of years. If you want to stay in a hotel near stourhead gardens look here. I have read only four chapters, but appreciate thackers style of writing and, especially, i appreciate that thacker carefully explains horticultural and architectural terms.
The remaining half of the estate was left to a cousin whose descendants still live here. The national trust cares for the finest collection of historic buildings, gardens, parks, landscape and coastline in the world. On this visit i went on a big walk to king alfreds tower, a nice walk but quite long and good views from the top of the tower which is also free if you are a national trust member. Stourhead is a 1,072hectare 2,650acre estate at the source of the river stour in the.
Discover the history of national trust house stourhead, wiltshire. Stourhead, stourton with gasper 471 historic england. Five thousand years of gardening has yielded some of the most amazing and beautiful paradigms of what a garden can be. Prices and facilities stourhead gardens bed and breakfast. Mar 27, 2014 chris beardshaw is an award winning garden designer, television presenter and author. It is probably the most important element in the gardens, providing a focus for vistas across the lake from different points. Its magnificent lake is central to this garden which also includes displays of classical temples and follies. Stourhead the genius of the place the garden visitor. Discover england tours offer gardeners the opportunity to visit some of the loveliest gardens in the south of england including.
Stourhead was the perfect realization of the eighteenthcentury yearning for a vergilian and claudian arcady. The garden was laid out between 1741 and 1780 and designed by henry hoare ii as a place to entertain. House is interesting, but having visited stourhead many times i rarely go in the house now. Rome2rio makes travelling from london to stourhead gardens easy. A magnificent lake is central to the design at stourhead, with the lakes edge being adorned with classical temples, enchanting grottos and rare and exotic trees to discover. Researchers find 18thcentury lost garden under iconic national trust lake. Find all the transport options for your trip from london to stourhead gardens right here. A description of the house and gardens at stourhead, in the county of wilts, the seat of sir richard hoare, bart. In the early 18th century there was an almost mystical belief in the genius of the place and this created many of our greatest gardens.
Nov 08, 2014 i know this sounds esoteric, but the excitement is that you are never quite sure where the creative process is going to lead you. Adjacent to stourhead garden, spread eagle inn is one of the top choices for your stay based on our traveller data, and this 4star inn offers free breakfast and a restaurant. If you have a passion for unique english houses, then stourhead would definitely be well worth a look. Dont miss the up hill temple of apollo both entrances are through cave style tunnels. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Every issue, the english garden magazine features the most beautiful gardens from all across the uk and ireland both town and country plots, big and small. For centuries, stourhead has been acclaimed as one of brittains most picturesque gardens. Emma l 1 year ago stourhead garden is my favourite place in the world a magical fantasy landscape nestled in its own valley with eccentric follies and rich dense woodlands. Garden designs have gone hand in hand with the philosophical trends of each era. Mere is a small town east of glastonbury and a little south of the town of warminster. In 1946 stourhead was bequeathed to the national trust. A natural history of english gardening is a thrilling look back at centuries of a. Stourhead has been in the ownership of the national trust since 1946. Helena attlee is an author and journalist who has made the garden and its history her special subject.
Many of the paths lead around the big lake that is framed by the hilly terrain. Stourhead garden henry hoare ii and henry flitcroft. The history of gardens should be the first book read by anyone who wants to learn about the history of garden styles. She lectures widely, writes for a wide range of journals and magazines, and leads specialist garden tours. Dec 04, 2008 take an interactive tour of stourhead. The story of stourhead wiltshire is a fascinating one, as much about the people who created it, as the garden itself. Its famous and wellrespected series of guidebooks provides the essential companion to your visit and a lasting souvenir of the experience. A cultural history and gardens of wales all publishd by frances lincoln. In 1725, henrys son, henry hoare ii 170585 inherited stourhead. The damming of the river and the creation of the lake was an ambitious undertaking. Chinese gardens are significant pieces of chinas history. This ha produced an astonishing array of horticultural masterpieces both great and small. The greatest gardens and the people who shaped them 01 by campbell, katie, beardshaw, chris, harrison, nathan isbn.
A gorgeous new book chronicles the history of the english. May 25, 2018 chinese gardens are significant pieces of chinas history. The best hotels closest to stourhead garden 2020 updated. The pantheon was originally called the temple of hercules. The centre piece of the garden at stourhead is the lake, which dictates the path you take and the views you enjoy. As the path opens up you get a stunning view of the english landscape with views of.
Nov 03, 2016 we arrived at stourhead, were directed to the coach park, with nice long bays, and i had my now customary shower in a national trust car park. Stourhead house and gardens and half the estate were given to the national trust in 1946 by sir henry and lady hoare. The garden is always a treat to visit at any time of year. Henry the magnificent and his architect henry flitcroft planned it before work began on the garden buildings such as the temple of flora. It was certainly as good as i could have hoped for as a. Although keen to introduce my son to this fairytale setting i was concerned that the two mile trek around the lake would. Stourhead house and garden warminster 2020 all you. I know this sounds esoteric, but the excitement is that you are never quite sure where the creative process is going to lead you. This book is a beautifully illustrated celebration of stourhead, the estate in wiltshire which features a palladian mansion and a legendary georgian landscape garden. Aug 26, 2016 one of the many lovely things about the gardens at stourhead is the estate walk and many other seasonal walks on the grounds. In the early 18th century there was an almost mystical belief in the genius of the place and this created many of our greatest gardens of which stourhead has become the most iconic. The gardens at stourhead, a national trust property the.
Many are also productive, using traditional this is a weighty book, well over 400 glossy pages. Further to the south lies the village of bonham and to the southwest the village of gasper. Whilst the gardens at stourhead are probably at their best when the rhododendrons are out, there is plenty to see at other times of the year the stourhead estate was bought in 1717 by henry hoare i, son of wealthy banker sir richard hoare, and it was his son henry hoare ii who designed the gardens. Located in the middle of a 2,650 acre estate near warminster south of bath, this magnificent garden surrounds a peaceful lake, a jewel nestled among undulating hills. The estate includes a palladian mansion, the village of stourton, gardens, farmland, and woodland. Admire all the views of the grounds along the walk around the lake. I have been to stourhead gardens many times and it is my favourite national trust gardens. The pantheon appears like a 3d image with a foreground of laurel so important in the 18th century. Stourhead gardens best time to visit hotels near to.
A pleasant walk, long enough to stretch the legs but not too far. This page is not intended to give an in depth background to stourhead house and gardens, but more an overview of the history of the whole stourhead estate, and particularly stourhead western estate, the portion still controlled by the hoare family. The gardens are open every day of the year, including all holidays, except for december 25 th. May 31, 2015 a gorgeous new book chronicles the history of the english garden. The overall estate features an exquisite palladian mansion, gardens, fountains, farmland, and a village. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Perhaps the most beautiful and magical of all of the great 18thcentury landscape gardens. The ground at stourhead is generally undulating and in parts hilly. A lost garden that has lain undisturbed for almost 300 years may have been discovered at stourhead, one of the uks most popular national trust sites. Their only son had been killed in 1917 and they wanted to ensure the survival of the estate. The house was designed by colen campbell but henry hoare i unfortunately died the same year in which the house was completed. Stourhead gardens are beautiful, theres nothing else you can say really. Mar 28, 2012 i have been to stourhead gardens many times and it is my favourite national trust gardens.
The small village of stourton lies immediately to its southeast, with farmland beyond it. Stourhead garden henry hoare ii and henry flitcroft great. The terrace offers one of the most important views from the top garden. A visit to the national trust stourhead house and gardens. See all 3 stourhead house and garden tours on tripadvisor. A tranquil place to sit, relax and immerse yourself in 300 years of history. One of the many lovely things about the gardens at stourhead is the estate walk and many other seasonal walks on the grounds. The stourhead estate, which measures at 2,650 acres, is located near mere, wiltshire, and at the source of the river stour. Hidcote and kiftsgate forde abbey, mapperton, the harold peto garden at iford manor, abbey garden malmesbury, mottisfont abbey rose garden, abbottsbury subtropical garden on the dorset coast and many more. Close to the village of stourton lies one of wiltshires most breathtaking sightsstourhead, a countryhouseandgarden combination that has few parallels for beauty anywhere in europe. The lake is set amongst picture perfect lawns, surrounded by trees. In c 1733 he began to extend his fathers gardens with a formal terrace walk of scotch firs to the west of the house. It was autumn and there was a heavy mist when does fog become a heavy mist.
He trained in horticulture and landscape design and after lecturing widely, now focuses on fronting and cohosting tv programmes such as the flying gardener, hidden gardens, gardeners world, great garden detectives, and the most recent series british gardens in time. Jul 15, 2011 helena attlee is an author and journalist who has made the garden and its history her special subject. I understand that these old items are light sensitive but the guide in the paintings room was pulling the blinds down at 3. With easy road access from the a303, stourhead, near mere in wiltshire, makes for a magical day out or even two.
Researchers find 18thcentury lost garden under iconic. When we did the tour of the manor house a gentle, but steady rain was coming down. With so many great historical sites, from imposing castles and keeps to magnificent and opulent manor houses, england vacations offer both an entertaining and educational break. The gardens are not just pretty to look at, they are also interesting and informative an education in horticulture, history of gardening, gardening itself. Henry hoare ii the magnificent made changes to the house by rebuilding the west front. Oct 01, 2006 the national trust cares for the finest collection of historic buildings, gardens, parks, landscape and coastline in the world. Stourhead garden by henry hoare ii and henry flitcroft architect, at stourton, england, 1741 to 1765, architecture in the great buildings online. A natural history of english gardening is a thrilling look back at centuries of a national obsession. The view with the tree line in front of the lake, the bank, island, pantheon and the skyline. A gorgeous new book chronicles the history of the english garden.
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