Scampston Walled Garden

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2016 marks the 300th anniversary of landscape artist Lancelot “Capability” Brown, whose designs changed the face of of 18th century England. Born in Northumberland in 1716, he learnt the skills of horticulture and husbandry from the age of 16, as an apprentice on the Wallington estate.  His vision was extraordinary and over the course of 40 years he moved gardens away from formal design to a style that is unmistakably his.

Brown persuaded the rich and famous to invest in landscapes which were beautiful, productive, and would take a century to mature. He designed on an immense scale, moving hills and making flowing lakes that resembled artificial rivers.  His work frequently produced an Arcadian idyll.  Sadly I have never visited Stowe in Buckinghamshire, his best known work, but he was involved in the design of over 250 sites throughout the UK.

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Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire sits beside the busy A64 road.  Wandering serenely across the estate you might never know.  A lazy sheep or two blink, and turn their backs.  The grounds at Scampston were redesigned by Capability in the 1770’s.  They bear all the hallmarks of his work.  A ‘ha ha’, or sunken fence, to confuse the eye, carefully planted trees and an expansive lake that resembles a river running off into infinity.

Oddly enough, I didn’t come to Scampston in search of the Palladian Bridge, but I think that Paula might like it for her Traces of the past.  The lure of the Walled Garden is the ‘new European garden style’, designed in 1999 by Piet Oudolf.  1999 no longer feels new but I did find enchantment in the drifts of Molinia grass.  Here is a small sample of what you might find.

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There’s much more, of course.  You can do some hedge trimming, or even have a cream tea.

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But you can’t beat Capability and a few Marsh Marigolds, can you?

I’m not sure if Scampston Walled Garden fits with Jude’s Garden Challenge, but I know she’ll like it.  That’s reason enough, isn’t it?

113 comments

  1. Jude will love it and so do I! That Capability got around a bit didn’t he? I wonder if Piet Oudolf will be remembered as long. In Exeter this year, they have left lots of the verges and green spaces to grow wild – with notices saying ‘Wild Exeter’. Some people say it’s a mess, but I like it and so does the wildlife, it reminds me a bit of Piet Oudolf!
    Hope you’re okay chookie, neither of us have been around much this week, but I expect you’re having a good time x:-)x

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    1. I’m fine thanks, Gilly. 🙂 Been out and about enjoying the sunshine. All set to change tomorrow. 😦 A lot of our verges have been sewn with wildflowers too. I think it must be a national initiative. Great idea 🙂 Hugs, honey!

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      1. Good now…arrived back in England last night after a tough 6 weeks in Spain (paperwork, no Internet and family “stuff”) then a difficult 3 day drive…happy to be back in Bexhill!

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  4. I had not heard of him before, love his name ” capability ” so very appropriate for a very talented man who has left a beutiful legacy for us all to enjoy I will make sure to visit it one day😄

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    1. This is one of his lesser known gardens, Gilda. Castle Howard in Yorkshire is one of his finest. And Stowe! If you follow the Capability link the National Trust look after 18 of his gardens. 🙂

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      1. Gardens are not a priority but if we come across one then we always enjoy. Blarney Castle gardens were the last ones that we stumbled across. A couple of weeks ago I went with my grandchildren to the ‘Forbidden Corner’ in Middleham, Yorkshire and although it is a bit quirky it is a good garden visit!

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      3. I only have the common white one, but the pollinators adore it. I will look out for the paprika variety and maybe a gold one too, they are lovely and I suspect they’ll do OK in this garden. Oh, and thanks for providing the scones this time 🙂

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  7. Gorgeous!
    Terry Pratchett has a character, Bergholt Stuttley Johnson, who is loosely based on Capability Brown, only Johnson’s designs all turn out wrong in some small or spectacular way. This gave rise to his other name Bloody Stupid Johnson.

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  8. I never saw landscaping as an art form, but now I do. It provides a whole new dimension and appreciation, really. And, I had to look up husbandry to find out it has nothing to do with marriage or cheating. 🙂 Amazing that people would invest so much money in scenery that would take 100 years to mature. All so the next generation and the ones to follow could enjoy these beautiful parks. I wish that “forward thinking” or “long term anticipation” is present in today’s generations as well, in western and less developed countries! Nature and wildlife would benefit tremendously.

    Liesbet @ Roaming About

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  14. Oh, I love walled gardens – a certain magic with all that concentrated creative planting. And of course to finish the obligatory scone and clotted cream! Looks a lovely place to visit and I’m trying to work out how I’ve never heard of this before! One to visit when next time up in Yorkshire. Have a lovely day, Jo. 😀

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    1. It’s not very high profile, Annika. My husband is a member of the RHS and it’s in their handbook. I think the grasses will look lovely as they change colour in Autumn. Thank you! We’ve been hiking down on the Moors today. Glorious!

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  16. I’m going to have to look this one up….looks great. And you have never been to Stowe?? A must, Jo….thank goodness I went when I could still walk some distance

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      2. Are you watching Phil Spencer’s Stately Homes on More 4? He visited Castle Howard this week – incredible place. I don’t think I have ever been there unless to the grounds as a child. The money spent on these places is extraordinary!

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  18. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Traces of the Past Y2-05 | Lost in Translation

    1. I do have some sheep photos from Scampston but I didn’t want to make the post too long. I seem to find sheep everywhere these days. Today too 🙂 How are your knees, by the way?

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