The father of landscape architecture

Few people have had as large an impact on British gardens as the landscape artist Lancelot Brown, more often known as Capability Brown. His naturalistic style and gracious designs have proved timeless, and his gardens remain popular almost 300 years after he did his best work.

Lancelot, born in 1716, has been called “the father of landscape architecture,” and is estimated to have designed approximately 170 gardens. The stately British homes for which he created some of his masterpieces include Blenheim Palace, home to the Churchill family, and Stowe in Buckinghamshire. “Lancelot’s work was a combination of art and nature, or, rather, nature improved by art,” said Richard Wheeler, a specialist in garden history for The National Trust, the British heritage organisation.

Richard said that Lancelot’s signature design was a central focal point, usually a grand house surrounded by wide lawns. The grass was bordered by trees that
became thicker toward the estate boundaries, with pathways meandering through shrubberies and groves. “He created parkland that was immensely beautiful and
gilded,” Richard said. “Lancelot tamed nature, though it was not wildernesses that he worked on but usually organised landscapes, such as open fields. If an area was not visually pleasing, he would add a focus, a ruined castle or gothic temple, something that moved the view inward.”

Classic designs

One of the best examples of a Lancelot landscape currently on the market is at the estate of Appuldurcombe, on the Isle of Wight, off Britain’s south coast. The
property was once owned by the Worsley family, and in the 16th century, it was
visited by Henry VIII, who hunted there. The 700 acres of grounds offer a classic Lancelot design of open pastures framed by woodland with an 18th-century house at its centre. There are two ornamental stone gatehouses on the original main approach, and the driveway winds across the park in such a way as to offer enticing glimpses of the mansion, rather than a full view, which is typical of Lancelot’s work.

“This is one of the most complete Lancelot landscapes you’ll find,” said
Appuldurcombe’s John Owen, the estate’s owner. “All the tracks and paths were
installed by him, and we have trees and even rare daffodils dating back to the 18th century.” Along with the gatehouses, several other points of interest were introduced by Lancelot. Near the main mansion is a restored 18th century ice house, and on a hill overlooking the estate stands a stone obelisk, meant to signify man’s domination over the landscape. The estate also has a “ha-ha,” a ditch designed by Lancelot to keep animals away from the main house. The ditch, which was disguised to blend seamlessly into the land, was so-called because it was considered an amusing addition to a garden. There are also rare “hare’s muses,” or small holes inserted in the boundary walls to allow animals to move on and off the estate.
Though Appuldurcombe House is in need of a complete restoration, much of the shell is sound, and it is a fine example of English Baroque architecture, with historically
important features. The Savills estate agency is listing the property for £ 4.75 million, or $ 6.7 million. “Buyers aren’t drawn by the Lancelot connection; they are investors interested in the house and land value,” John said. “But when they discover the historic link, they always show increased interest.”

Other impressive homes within historic Lancelot-designed estates are also often on the market. Westbourne House, a former coach house at Croome Court, in the west England county of Worcestershire, is currently listed with the Fine & Country agency at £ 650,000 (around six crores). The remodelled four-bedroom coach house, which is within Croome Court’s park, was designed by Robert Adam in the 18th century. Croome Court was one of Lancelot’s first and most important commissions. The striking Palladian-style main house, which is not for sale, was in part designed by Lancelot and is a rare example of his architectural work. It is surrounded by 700 acres of grounds that include a lake with footbridge and grotto, a stone-built rotunda and a number of stately cedar of Lebanon trees, a favourite that Lancelot included in many of his parks.

Redefining luxury

Also on the market is Fawsley Little Hall, a six-bedroom, faux-Elizabethan property built in 2004 and listed by the agency Michael Graham at £ 2.25 million. It is within the Lancelot-designed estate of Fawsley Hall, a 16th-century manor house once visited by Queen Elizabeth I, and now a hotel, in the central England country of Northamptonshire. Many of the trees planted in Fawsley Hall’s grounds in the 1760s are still present, and the park is
documented by the heritage organisation Historic England as being “little changed” since the 18th century. Fawsley Little Hall has a wealth of period features, many reclaimed from earlier eras, including an intricately carved staircase, leaded windows and decorative ceilings and coving. It has a formal garden and is in an elevated position with views across the historic estate.

In many cases Lancelot’s designs included pleasure grounds, or formally laid-out gardens with ornamental hedges, flower beds and gravel paths designed for strolling. These have often been altered or lost over time. One remaining example can be seen at Wynnstay Hall, near Wrexham, Wales. Originally home to the Wynn family, it was once one of the most prominent country estates in the region. The 30 acres of Lancelot-designed park also include a rock cascade, the only remainder of the original ornamental lake and various stone monuments of the period.

The French-style main house dates to the 19th century, because the 18th century mansion burned down in 1858. It has had a number of important guests, including a young Queen Victoria. The property has changed hands several times and is now converted into separate residences. Several properties are for sale here, including a five-bedroom, four-storey wing in need of updating with two medieval-style turrets. It is listed with the local agency Beresford Adams for £ 390,000.

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