Last updated on 29 March 09

Croome Landscape Park

Photograph © NTPL/David Noton

Gardenvisit Editorial

A house and park designed by Lancelot Brown, described by Dorothy Stroud as 'one of the largest undertakings of Brown's early practice'. The estate is on low marshy ground, Brown designed a river, a rotunda, a grotto and a Corinthian summer house.

Head Gardener's Comment

Croome has undergone 12 years of restoration, following 18th century plant bills. There are specimen trees throughout the park including Gingko, Manna Ash and Plane trees.

History

Commissioned by the 6th Earl of Coventry in 1751, Croome is 'Capability' Brown's first complete landscape, influencing garden designs around the world and establishing Brown's reputation. Brown designed the exterior of the house along with the a number of garden buildings and the church. Robert Adam had his first architectural commission in the form of the Temple Greenhouse and went on to design the interior of the church and several rooms in Croome Court. James Wyatt was brought in after the deaths of Brown and Adam to complete and tweak several designs - he also introduced a number of Coade stone statues.

Address - High Green, Severn Stoke, nr Pershore, Worcestershire, England, WR8 9JS
Opening times - 1 Feb-1 Mar '09 Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm 4 Mar-29 Mar '09 Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5.30pm 30 Mar - 31 Aug '09 every day 10am-5.30pm 2 Sep-1 Nov '09 Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5.30pm 7 Nov-20 Dec '09 Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm 26 Dec-3Jan '10 every day 10am-4pm 9 Jan-31 Jan '10 Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm
Admission - Adults £5; Children £2.50; Family £12.60 NT members and under-5s free
Website - Visit the Croome Landscape Park website