4 minute read
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!
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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.
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!
Image: Jamie Overland
A causeway has been built connecting the Church to the shore and an embankment was constructed around the building with large boulders to act as a breakwater. Now not only is it a spectacular wedding venue and the scene of many magnificent wedding photos but it is also a museum dedicated to the history of Rutland administered by Anglian Water containing many dinosaur fossils as well as a complete skeleton of an Anglo-Saxon male.
Languishing in Grimsthorpe until its recent discovery, Reptons Red Book for Normanton is a magnificent work of art, a precursor to the more prosaic power point presentation enjoyed today but nevertheless a way in which a client can be easily persuaded to envisage the ideas of the designer. But the Red Book is not the only legacy left by Repton. In his book ‘The Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening’ Repton laid down four key principles for good design. ‘Firstly it must display the natural beauties and hide the defects of every situation’ he wrote ‘secondly it should give the appearance of extent and freedom by carefully disguising or hiding the boundary. Thirdly it must studiously conceal every interference of art. However expensive by which the natural scenery is improved; making the whole appear the production of nature only; and fourthly all objects of mere convenience or comfort, if incapable of being made ornamental, or of becoming proper parts of the general scenery, must be removed or concealed.’
Far from becoming extinct as Repton had feared his profession has only grown in stature and this month the Chelsea Flower Show will once again demonstrate the depth of passion, skill and importance to our environment that continues to be shown by landscape gardeners today.
