Gardens of Britain

Gardens of Britain describes in words and photographs twenty outstanding gardens that have been chosen as representative masterpieces of the British tradition. They range in period from the early 17th century to the late 20th century and illustrate every notable style of gardening in the country. The love of formality, with its Renaissance origins, is seen at the Hatfield House, Montacute, Athelhampton and Hestercombe. In the 17th and early 18th centuries continental influences made their mark on the gardens at Hampton Court, Kinross, Levens Hall and Bramham Park. The distinctive tradition of the Arcadian 18th century landscape park is seen at Studley Royal Stowe, Stourhead and Bowood. The passion for plants has provided the inspiration for remarkable flower gardens like Tresco Abbey, Caerhays Castle, Great Dixter and Beth Chatto's Garden. Taken together the author's descriptions of these gardens constitute a living history of garden making in Britain. All the gardens described in this book are open to the public.