Prior Park Landscape Garden

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

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. Prior Park and the estate is south of Bath, Somerset, England. The garden was influential in defining the style of garden known as the "English garden" in continental Europe.[1] The garden is Grade I listed in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England.[2]

Around 1100 the site was part of a deer park set out by John of Tours the Bishop of Bath and Wells. In 1720s it was bought by Ralph Allen and landscaped to complement his new house. Further dvelopment was undertaken after the house became a seminary and then a Roman Catholic grammar school which became Prior Park College. In the 1990s 11.3 hectares (28 acres) of the park and pleasure grounds were acquired by the National Trust and a large scale restoration undertaken. Features include a Palladian architecture bridge, lake and ancillary buildings.

History

The park is set in a small steep valley, with views of the city of Bath. The first park on the site was set out by John of Tours the Bishop of Bath and Wells around 1100, as part of a deer park, and subsequently sold to Humphrey Colles and then Matthew Colhurst.[3] Even before the dissolution of the monasteries the walls which had enclosed the deerpark had fallen down and the deer escaped. The land was then used for agriculture.[2]

18th century design

The Ice House at Prior Park

The estate was bought by Ralph Allen in the 1720s.[2] Prior Park's 11.3 hectares (28 acres) landscape garden was laid out by the poet Alexander Pope between the construction of the house, Prior Park, which was built by local entrepreneur and philanthropist Ralph Allen from about 1734 until his death in 1764.[4] During 1737, at least 55,200 trees, mostly elm and Scots pine, were planted, along the sides and top of the valley. No trees were planted on the valley floor. Water was channelled into fish ponds at the bottom of the valley.

Later work, during the 1750s and '60s, was undertaken by the landscape gardener Capability Brown.[5][6][7] This included extending the gardens to the north and removing the central cascade making the combe into a single sweep.[3] The garden was influential in defining the style of garden known as the English garden in continental Europe.[1]

In 1828 the house and estate were purchased by Bishop Augustine Baines to create a seminary and then Bishop William Clifford for a Roman Catholic grammar school which later became Prior Park College. Further landscaping was carried out in the 1880s.[2]

Restoration

In 1993 11.3 hectares (28 acres) of the park and pleasure grounds were acquired by the National Trust and it was opened to the public in 1996.[8][9] In November 2002, the large-scale restoration project began on the cascade, serpentine lake and Gothic temple in the wilderness area, this is now complete. Extensive planting also took place in 2007. Future plans include re-roofing the grotto and building a replica Gothic temple.[9]

Garden features

Its many interesting features include a Palladian architecture bridge (one of only 4 left in the world), Gothic temple, gravel cabinet, Mrs Allen's Grotto,[10] ice house,[11] lodge[12] and three pools with curtain walls[13] plus a serpentine lake. The curtain wall by the lake is known as the Sham Bridge and is similar to Kent's Cascade at Chiswick House and Vunus Vale at Rousham House.[8] Ralph Allen was also responsible for the construction of Sham Castle on a hill overlooking Bath.[14]

The rusticated stone piers on either side of the main entrance gates are surmounted by entablatures and large ornamental vases,[15] while those at the drive entrance have ornamental carved finials.[16] The Porter's Lodge was built along with the main house to designs by John Wood the Elder.[17]

Palladian bridge

The Palladian bridge

The Palladian bridge, which is a copy of the one at Wilton House,[18] has been designated as a Grade I listed building[19] and Scheduled Ancient Monument.[20][21] It was repaired in 1936.[22]

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.[23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Prior Park Landscape Garden". Minerva Stone Conservation. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Historic England. "Prior Park  (Grade I) (1000144)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Prior Park, Bath, England". Parks and gardens UK. Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  4. ↑ Greeves, Lydia (2006). History and Landscape: The Guide to National Trust Properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. National Trust Books. pp. 316–317. ISBN 978-1905400133.
  5. ↑ Bond, James (1998). Somerset Parks and Gardens. Somerset Books. pp. 82–84. ISBN 978-0861834655.
  6. ↑ "Green Priorities for the National Trust at Prior Park". questia.com. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Prior Park Landscape Garden". National Trust. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "History: Prior Park, Bath, England". Parks and Gradens UK. Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Development of the garden at Prior Park". National Trust. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Grotto in grounds of Prior Park". Heritage List. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  11. ↑ "Ice-house in grounds of Prior Park". Heritage List. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Prior Park Lodge". Heritage List. English Heritage. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Screen wall to pool below the West Pavilion and Church of St. Paul". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  14. ↑ Dunning, Robert (1995). Somerset Castles. Tiverton: Somerset Books. p. 77. ISBN 0-86183-278-7.
  15. ↑ "Gate Posts at entrance to Prior Park". Heritage List. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  16. ↑ "Gate Posts to Drive at Prior Park". Images of England. Heritage List. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  17. ↑ "Porters Lodge". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  18. ↑ Durman, Richard (2000). Classical Buildings of Wiltshire & Bath: A Palladian Quest. Bath: Millstream Books. pp. 91–94. ISBN 978-0948975608.
  19. ↑ Historic England. "Palladian Bridge in grounds of Prior Park (1394463)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "List of Scheduled Ancient Monuments". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  21. ↑ Historic England. "Palladian Bridge, Prior Park, Bath (1004514)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  22. ↑ Borsay, Peter (2000). The image of Georgian Bath, 1700-2000: towns, heritage, and history. Oxford University Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-19-820265-3.
  23. ↑ "Bath Skyline". National Trust. Retrieved 2 April 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prior Park.

Coordinates: 51°22′02″N 2°20′37″W / 51.36721°N 2.34374°W