Focus Post: Painshill

This is a focus post about Painshill landscape garden. If that doesn't sound interesting, I would skip it. 👋

The Painshill 18th century landscape garden was created between 1738 and 1773, by the Hon. Charles Hamilton. Inspired by landscape paintings and his Grand Tours across Europe, he created a sequence of breathtaking and surprising vistas. The landscapes form living works of art into which Hamilton placed follies for dramatic effect.

Very old cork oak on the sunny day of our visit.

The Gothic Temple folly

The ceiling inside the Gothic Temple

Inside view of the Ruined Abbey folly

Outside view of the Ruined Abbey

Very pretty duck

The exterior of the exquisite Crystal Grotto

I could only imagine the time and skill it took to create the Crystal Grotto. Each piece was added by hand.

Lovely landscape view of the Gothic Temple

The picturesque Woollett Bridge

The 36 foot water wheel from 1835 still operates to fill small lakes from the River Mole.

The Hermitage - there is a short film being made about the person hired to live here:

Bellywash is based on the true story of the first ornamental hermit of Painshill, who was fired from his role three weeks in after being found in a pub. The film will follow the series of events that lead him to leave his role, and how a friendship with the estate owner’s daughter opens his eyes to the magic of everyday life. Together they bond over fairytales and break society’s expectations.