Bowood Gardens

An eighteenth century house and park with a nineteenth century 'Italian' garden. Lancelot Brown's plan for the park survives and is one of the clearest examples of his style. It has circular clumps, an encircling tree belt and a serpentine lake. A Doric temple sits beside the lake. The lake discharges via a cascade designed by Charles Hamilton of Painshill. The conservatory was designed by Robert Adam. In 1851, George Kennedy designed an 'Italian garden' to mediate between the house and the park. It has terraced, balustrades, urns and steps - but it lacks the dignity of the house and park.