HUMPHRY REPTON
The Art of Humphry Repton lives on... The work of eighteenth century landscape gardener, Capability Brown is well known and his work can still be viewed at our local stately homes of Burghley, Belvoir and at Grimsthorpe. Widely considered to be his successor, Humphry Repton also worked within the county. His trademark Red Books were bound in gold embossed Moroccan leather with hand marbled paper linings. Using his skills as an artist Repton would depict the garden as it was and carefully constructed overlays (either hinged or sliding) would demonstrate his vision for the landscape. His detailed advice for the garden accompanied these illustrations in neat copperplate handwriting and the whole presentation was in itself a work of art! Imagine the excitement when one such Red Book for Normanton Hall was discovered at Grimsthorpe Castle recently. Sir Gilbert
Heathcote the 1st Earl of Ancaster had resided at Normanton and in July 1797 was presented with the Red Book for the transformation of the grounds by Repton. Layer by layer historic images of the grounds were depicted with the Repton creations for a park like landscape superimposed. Corinthian style ornamentation of a tower and portico, similar to that at St Johns Concert Hall, Smiths Square London
was added to the rustic old Normanton Church of St Matthew by architect Thomas Cundy in 1826. This was used as the family’s own private chapel and mausoleum until they relocated to their other home, Grimsthorpe Castle in the late 1920’s.
Image: Jamie Overland
The Church remains today, saved by a public outcry after it had been deconsecrated and destined for demolition in the 1970’s when the Gwash Valley was flooded to make way for a new reservoir, Rutland Water. The lower floor was filled with rubble and concrete and the new floor is now 60cm above the lapping waters when the reservoir is full. So not the lawn surrounding the Church that Repton had envisaged and it is probably no understatement to suggest that lake he had pictured in the valley would have been on a smaller scale to the reservoir that occupies the space today! continued >
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