Prior Park Landscape Garden

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View from Prior Park over the bridge toward the city

For the nearby Catholic Independent School adjoining the Prior Park Landscape Garden see Prior Park College; for its prep school, see Prior Park Preparatory School

Prior Park Landscape Garden is an 18th-century landscape garden, designed by the poet Alexander Pope and the landscape gardener Capability Brown, and now owned by the National Trust. It is south of Bath, Somerset, England by Prior Park Road, and 3/4 mile (1.2 km) from the Kennet and Avon canal path. The garden was influential in defining the style of garden known as the "English garden" in continental Europe.

Prior Park was created by local entrepreneur and philanthropist Ralph Allen from about 1734 until his death in 1764, with advice from both Pope and Brown. Allen became mayor of Bath in 1742, having started off working in the post office. Much of the "Bath stone" so prevalent in Bath came from Allen's limestone Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines. In around 1742, Allen commissioned architect John Wood to build a mansion within the park, which is now owned by Prior Park College. William Warburton, Allen's son-in-law, lived there for some time.

The 28 acre (113,000 m²) landscape garden is set in a dramatic site running down a small steep valley, with fine views of the city of Bath. Its many interesting features include a Palladian bridge, Gothic temple, gravel cabinet, Mrs Allen's Grotto, and three lakes plus a serpentine lake.

As of November 2006, a large-scale restoration project is being undertaken on the cascade, serpentine lake and Gothic temple. Work is expected to be completed in spring 2007.

[edit] Bath skyline

A five-minute walk from the garden leads on to the Bath skyline, a six mile (10 km) circular walk around the city that encompasses woodlands, meadows, an Iron Age hill-fort, Roman settlements, 18th-century follies and spectacular views.