A Garden of Earthly Delights:

Charles Hamilton’s Paradise at Painshill Landscape Garden

We were delighted that William Tomlins from the Painshill Trust visited the Probus Club of Ewell and gave a sparkling presentation on Painshill Landscape Gardens better known as Charles Hamilton’s Paradise. This was a full and well illustrated presentation taking us from the early 1700's to the present day and the Painshill Trust. 

William told us that Hamilton lived at Painshill from 1738 to 1773, and during that, time built up the estate from about 125 acres to over 200 acres. He worked ceaselessly to improve the scene and to add beauties both natural and artificial.

Painshill changed and developed in accordance with Hamilton's progressive thinking and with the style of the times. Later the emphasis was on naturalness combined with a variety of buildings as points of interest.

William indicated that the Trust are renovating the Gardens as much in line with Hamilton's outlook for he composed the pleasure gardens as a series of pictures, which altered continually, with surprises and illusions. The lake was made to seem bigger than it was by its shaping and by the arrangement of islands so that the water could not be seen all at once.

 

Painshill was also very much a garden of "mood" which changed from one part of the grounds to another.

Particular atmospheres were deliberately evoked; thus, the area surrounding the hermitage, a symbol of retreat and meditation, was gloomy and overcast. While the Temple of Bacchus, a light and pleasant building, created a spirit of cheerfulness in a setting of colourful shrubs. The Roman Mausoleum was intended to remind visitors of the past, and, by its ruinous appearance, also to remind them of material things.

Hamilton was a keen planter, making full use of the specimens, which were being made available from contacts with the New World.

The individual buildings had many noteworthy features. The Temple of Bacchus, possibly modelled on Roman original and with a ceiling and pedestals by Robert Adam, was highly praised.

There was a ruined gothic structure, which was very popular in gardens at that time. 

 

 

 

 

The mausoleum mentioned earlier and a Turkish tent in blue, white and constructed of canvas on a brick foundation.

In the western corner of the grounds, there is a watchtower, a castellated tower somewhat medieval in appearance. 

 

 

There were a number of bridges of stone and wood; one of which survives as shown, in a style once described as "Chinese Chippendale".

A grotto, a fantasy of a cave with elaborate crystals stalactites, all entirely artificial, sadly the roof collapsed in 1948 but now the bridge and tunnel are being restored work is continuing on the twelve metre main chamber. There are large openings, so that the sun is reflected from the water into the cave and the crystal sparkles. It is thus a bright shimmering chamber and not the dark, gloomy cavern which the term 'grotto' might suggest.

The lake is above the River Mole, and Hamilton installed two water wheels at different times to raise water from the river. The present wheel, 12 metres in diameter and one of the first of cast-iron in the UK, was built by the engineering firm Bramah about 1830.

William explained that Hamilton was a keen collector of antique busts and statues and he housed his treasures in some of the follies. His prize was a two metre high Grecian statue of Bacchus, plus a complete set of busts of Roman emperors.

Following detailed research by the Trust, shrubbery’s are being replanted with species that Hamilton would have used. In addition, work has begun on replacing the trees in the Alpine Valley.

William covered a great deal and this was reflected in the warm applause following the vote of thanks. Members are advised to visit Painshill and see the transformation being achieved, where there is a very nice shop, excellent parking and a very pleasant eatery for your afternoon teas etc

Photographs on this page are by kind permission of Alison Urwin; Alison is a member of Banstead Horticultural Society.

If you are thinking of making a cash or gift aid donation, covenant or legacy and would like to talk to the Director,

Janie Burford, please telephone 01932 868113.

Painshill Park Trust

Painshill Park

Portsmouth Road

Cobham, Surrey KT11 1JE