1448
- Sir John Stourton purchases 1000 acres of land
1717
- Henry Hoare I purchases the estate
1725
- Creator of the garden, Henry Hoare II 'the Magnificent', inherits Stourhead at the age of 20
1744
- Flitcroft is commissioned to design temples for the landscape
1745
- The Temple of Flora is built
1746
- the first Obelisk is built
1747
- Rysbrack sculpts the statue of Hercules for the Pantheon
1748
- construction of the Grotto begins
1749
1751
- John Cheere sculpts river god statue for the Grotto
1753
- construction of the Pantheon begins
1754
- construction of the dam begins
1758
- Richard Colt Hoare is born
1762
- Alfred’s Tower construction begins and continues for 10 years
1762
1762
- Palladian Bridge is built
1762
- greenhouses built in the Walled Garden
1765
- Temple of Apollo is built
1765
- Bristol High Cross is brought to Stourhead
1785
- Henry Hoare II dies. His grandson and heir, Richard Colt Hoare, embarks on his ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe
1791
- many plantings at Stourhead, including first Rhododendron ponticum
1794
1798
- Chinese Bridge dismantled and ferry introduced
'In the summer 1798, I took down the Chinese Bridge and placed a ferry on the same spot. 11,060 laurels planted in the garden.' - Sir Richard Colt Hoare
1806
- gothic additions to the Watch Cottage (now called the Gothic Cottage)
1814
- lake extended toward the village
1821
- Turner's Paddock Lake formed
1821
- Stourhead recorded to have largest pelargonium collection in the world
1828
- more rhododendron varieties collected
1838
- Obelisk rebuilt in Bath Stone
1841
- many conifer plantations added to the estate
1852
'On Sunday night December 26th. A South Westerly Gale which lasted several hours increasing at times to a perfect hurricane & accompanied by torrents of rain did great damage to the plantations & woods in this and the surrounding neighbourhood. On Park Hill near the Six Wells more than 300 trees, chiefly of the fir tribe, were blown down.' - Hugh Richard Hoare
1860
- fountain on west lawn installed
1894
'The walled gardens were entirely replanted with 118 various fruit trees, and new vines put into the large Vinery' - Henry Hugh Hoare
1897
'On Ash Wednesday this year, there was a great storm, which unfortunately blew down a large Elm near the Lily Lake. This was by many, considered to be the largest of its kind in Wiltshire, and measured 400 feet of timber.' - Henry Hugh Hoare
1901
- azaleas added to the plant collection
'The two Islands were cleaned out and the ground raised and turfed. Some 300 Azaleas from Longleat were planted- and the stone bridge was repaired at a cost of 15-10/.' - Henry Hugh Hoare
1918
- many rhododendron varieties added over the next 30 years
1946
- Stourhead is given to the National Trust
1947
- Henry and Alda Hoare die on the same day
The National Trust at Stourhead
In our first years in charge of Stourhead, we concentrated on the woodland. Dangerous and decrepit trees were removed to ensure the long-term survival of the rest.
In the 1960s we were able to repair the dam, the Rock Arch and the roof of the Temple of Apollo, following grants from the Historic Buildings Council.
In 1978 we published a Conservation Plan, which, for the first time, made proposals for the long-term management of the garden:
- where Henry Hoare the Magnificent's creations survive (the circuit walk, the garden buildings and the views), they should be respected
- replanting should follow precedent
- the garden round the lake should be allowed to merge gently into the more pastoral character of the wider landscape at Six Wells Bottom and below the dam
- replanting should aim at simplicity, rather than striking variety, of colour and shape
These principles have enabled Stourhead to change, while retaining the magical, intangible spirit that has made it a paradise on earth for more than two and a half centuries.
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