The English Garden

A survey of 100 English gardens, from the 16thcentury to the present day. The English Garden is an illustrated survey of 100 iconic, significant and beautiful gardens in England, from the sixteenth century to the present day. This accessible and informative source book includes an unrivalled range of gardens by designers, makers, patrons, artists, architects and literary figures - from Sir Edward Phelips Montacute House (1590), to todays award-winning designs and large-scale environmental creations, such as Nicholas Grimshaws Eden Project in Cornwall (2001). Following the format of Phaidons popular The Garden Book, The English Garden is an easy-to-use guide with 100 gardens organised in chronological order. Each garden has been chosen for its unique contribution to the develoment of English garden design throughout time.The selection is comprehensive and covers all key styles and movements - from the Dutch-influenced gardens of the eighteenth century, such as Manyard Colchesters Westbury Court garden (1705), and the formal gardens of the nineteenth century, like Sir Charles Barrys richly planted terrace at Harewood House (1844), to the Modernist creations of the early twentieth century and gardens by todays leading designers. Other examples include the subtropical splendour of Tresco Abbey Gardens (1834), the quintessential Arts and Crafts garden of Wightwick Manor (1887), the Italian Renaissance-inspired garden at Iford Manor (1899) and the romantic herbaceous borders of the White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle (1948).The English Garden presents seminal gardens by early English landscape architects such as William Kent and Capability Brown, the work of great horticultural masters and plantsmen like Christopher Lloyd, Gertrude Jekyll and Vita Sackville-West, as well as contemporary garden designers, including Beth Chatto, David Hicks and Christopher Bradley-Hole, among others. Gardens of historical importance feature as well as national favourites, from Hampton Court Palace garden (1728) to Beatrix Potters Hill Top garden in the Lake District (1905).In addition, the selection includes gardens by famous literary, artistic and architectural figures such as Alexander Pope, William Wordsworth, Barbara Hepworth and Peter Aldington. Organised chronologically, readers can trace the development of the English garden over time. Each entry consists of a full-page image with a concise text, placing the garden and its maker in stylistic and historical context. The book also features a glossary of terms and movements, a directory of gardens open to the public and an index. The English Garden is both an accessible reference and an easy-to-use guide, appealing to both the general reader and practicing gardeners.