Must-visit Gardens by Capability Brown | HeritageXplore
If you were anyone in Georgian society, one thing you absolutely had to ensure was that your
gardens were designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, but who was the man behind those
capable hands and which of our HeritageX gardens designed by Brown can you visit through
our platform today?
Who was Lancelot Brown?
Lancelot Brown was born in Kirkharle Northumberland in 1716, the fifth child of land agent
William Brown and chambermaid Ursula. At sixteen, he took up an apprenticeship under the
Head Gardener at Kirkharle, joining his mother as part of the workforce.
From there, he worked his way up, his talents catching the attention of Lord Cobham who
employed him to work under renowned garden designer William Kent at Stowe. It was at
Stowe that he really made a name for himself, designing the glorious Grecian Valley and
becoming Head Gardener by the tender age of 26. Lord Cobham allowed Brown to take on
freelance work for his aristocratic friends, thus giving Brown a connection to an illustrious
network of clients whose gardens he would go on to make famous.
What sort of designs was he recognised for?
“Capability” Brown as he became known had three guiding principles: economy, elegance
and style. The landscapes he designed were often on an immense scale, providing a striking
frame for stately homes surrounded by woodland, parkland and carefully contoured terrains.
His designs also often included serpentine lakes, twisting to look like rivers alongside
enchanting architectural features such as temples, bridges and follies.
Where did the name “Capability” come from?
His nickname “Capability” didn’t, as you might expect, come from his immense capability in
garden design, but rather from his own notion that the estates he worked on had great
“capabilities” for improvement; an extremely effective sales pitch which won him a
prestigious portfolio of work… one hundred and seventy parks to be precise!
Which of his gardens can you visit today?
Because Brown’s work was designed to mature over the centuries, many of the gardens he
worked on are even more beautiful today than they were when he first designed them. Brown
designed the gardens of many of our HeritageX homes which you can book to visit through
our platform.
1. Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
One of Brown’s pre-eminent works, it is impossible to think of Blenheim without picturing
the magnificent lake that flows through the grounds, winding beneath the stunning bridge
designed by John Vanbrugh. The rest of the park has Brown’s mark too, with gentle slopes
covered by acres of mature woodland.
Top tip* Stand on the Grand Bridge to get the best view of Blenheim with the house in front
of you and the lake surrounding you on either side.
Did you know? During a restoration project in 2018, 30 secret rooms were discovered in the
bottom of John Vanbrugh’s bridge, thought to have been deliberately flooded by Brown when
he installed the lake in 1763. The rooms include a theatre, a ballroom and even some 18 th
century graffiti!
Book to visit Blenheim here
2. Holkham Hall, Norfolk
Brown laid the foundations for some of the naturalisation of Holkham’s vast parkland in the
1760s, toning down the previous formality of the estate and making it blend in more
seamlessly with its environment.
Top tip* Don’t miss the “Leicester Monument,” built and dedicated to Thomas Coke, 1 st Earl
of Leicester, which has bas-reliefs carved into it, depicting Coke’s work through his lifetime,
such as sheep-shearing, grant leasing and irrigation.
Book to visit Holkham here
3. Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire
Grimsthorpe was one of the estates Brown worked on earlier in his career, designing the
original lake opposite the castle that still sits in the same position today.
Top tip* Enjoy Grimsthorpe’s gorgeous grounds by walking around the lake, and don’t
forget to pay a visit to the lovely Kitchen Gardens too.
Book to visit Grimsthorpe here
4. Knowsley Hall, Merseyside
The gardens and park at Knowsley Hall are a classic example of Brown’s style, with acres
upon acres of undulating parkland, scattered with trees and three glorious lakes.
Top tip* Knowsley Hall is only open to the public through guided tours or private stays.
Book to visit Knowsley Hall here
5. Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire
A more unusual example of Brown’s work, Brown drew up a plan for the grounds in 1780
which was never implemented and thought lost until it was rediscovered 250 years later in
2013 by the current Duchess of Rutland. The team at Belvoir have just completed a huge
restoration of the grounds using these plans and visitors today are lucky enough to see
Brown’s original vision brought to life.
Top tip* Enjoy the best view of Belvoir from The Memorial Lake, which sits beneath the
Castle and is also open to the public for trout fishing.
Book to visit Belvoir Castle here
