18th-century landscaped garden with follies, grottoes, waterwheel and vineyard
Painshill’s Grade 1 listed 18th century landscape garden was created in
the naturalistic style between 1738 and 1773, and was the artistic
vision of the Honourable Charles Hamilton, 9th son and 14th child of the
6th Earl of Abercorn.
Inspired by Renaissance and contemporary art and visits to Italy on the
Grand Tour, the Hon. Charles Hamilton decided to create a tranquil
landscape setting enriched by follies, water, trees, shrubberies and a
vineyard.
A painter, plantsman and brilliantly imaginative designer, the Hon.
Charles Hamilton created a garden of ‘moods’ which change from one part
to another, creating a romantic landscape to stimulate the senses and
emotions of the visitor
The Hon. Charles Hamilton created a stunning ‘living work of art’ and
was, at the time, in the forefront of the picturesque movement. The
landscape was among the earliest to reflect the changing fashion from
geometric formality to the naturalistic style.
[ http://www.painshill.co.uk/about-painshill/history/]
The crystal Grotto has been restored by the Heritage Lottery Fund
and other private donations. Hundreds of thousands of crystals
including calcite, gypsum, quartz, and fluorite were used to re-create
this extraordinary folly, which dates back to 1760.
The Waterwheel, which operates today, was built by Bramah & Sons in
the 1830s to replace the original. It is one of the largest working
wheels in the UK. Restored in 1987, the Waterwheel is maintained by
volunteers.
The Vineyard was restored in 1992-93. Two and a half acres were
replanted with the Pinot Noir cultivar planted by Hon. Charles Hamilton
in the 18th century, plus Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc hybrids – to
reproduce Hamilton’s Painshill Sparkling Wine.
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