A short stroll from Stourhead House, lying in secluded privacy in the adjacent valley, is one of the finest landscape gardens in the world, quite often referred to as ‘Paradise’.
Stourhead garden was created by Henry Hoare II in the 1740s. The River Stour was dammed to form a great lake. Around the lake Hoare laid out a landscape garden to entrance his guests with stunning views and pacify them with serene walking pleasure.
As the garden developed, he added classical features, such as the Temple of Flora, the Pantheon, the Temple of Apollo and Gothic ruins to enhance the series of splendid and unexpected vistas.
Such was the accomplishment of this wondrous garden that Henry Hoare II became known as 'Henry the Magnificent'.
Hoare’s successors cherished his brilliant original conception, while enriching it with new planting. Today, Stourhead is essentially the same as Henry II’s vision – a self-contained and timeless masterpiece.
English landscape movement
Stourhead was at the forefront of the 18th-century English landscape movement.
Earlier in that century, British garden designers were still following the French model of straight vistas and manicured flowerbeds.
The fashion to mirror the stifling formality of the French court in its gardens soon lost appeal, and design turned instead to gardens that celebrated the beauty of nature.
Many of the ideas for this landscape movement were generated by men enticed by the scenes of the Grand Tour of Europe. Henry Hoare II, inspired by the views of Italy captured by artists in paint, decided to create a landscape garden at Stourhead that would bring art to life.
Ever-changing vistas
Stourhead garden changes with the light levels and position of the sun. The Pantheon may catch your eye one minute; then as the sun emerges from behind a cloud, the tulip tree on the island is bathed in light, followed by the Temple of Apollo.
The view from the Pantheon looks back toward the Temple of Flora, the Palladian bridge and the ancient parish church of St Peter’s, set remarkably against a panoramic bank of exotic trees.
The cavalcade of breathtaking vistas from around the garden surprise, inspire and enamour you, in a way that would make Henry Hoare II a proud man. For his garden has matured, and grown into the living work of art he sought to create nearly three centuries ago.
Caring for the garden
The garden team consists of the Head Gardener, Assistant Head Gardener and four full-time gardeners, aided by two National Trust trainees, a college placement and many volunteers.
Their aim is to present this natural paradise at its best to the 350,000 annual visitors, whilst also caring for the walled gardens and greenhouses near Stourhead House. Their challenge is to balance the needs of visitors with those of conservation.
|
