British Gardens in Time The Greatest Gardens and the People Who Shaped Them

About this book

British Gardens in Time takes four iconic gardens, each a product of its age, and provides a fascinating window into the creators and events that shaped them. The stories of their creation include obsession, escape, social ambition, political intrigue, heartbreak, bankruptcy and disaster. In unravelling these remarkable stories we reach back over the centuries to see these great gardens through fresh eyes.

From the magnificent landscape garden at Stowe created by Bridgeman, Kent and Lancelot 'Capability' Brown; the Victorian masterpiece of Biddulph Grange; the romantic Arts & Crafts retreat at Nymans; and Christopher Lloyd's plantsman's paradise at Great Dixter, you will hear of adventure, innovation and visionary individuals who changed the way we create our gardens and the plants we grow.

Author Katie Campbell weaves the stories of these four exemplary gardens into a history of British gardening from the earliest cultivated spaces to the present day, exploring trends, influences and pioneers. Fascinating historic detail and atmospheric storytelling make this a compelling read.

British Gardens in Time includes a foreword by Chris Beardshaw, specially commissioned photography by Nathan Harrison, and extensive archive illustrations.

Customer Reviews

Biography

Katie Campbell was a journalist and fiction writer before turning to garden history. She lectures widely, has taught on postgraduate and undergraduate courses at Birkbeck, Bristol and Buckingham Universities; she also writes for various publications and leads garden tours. Her most recent, book, Paradise of Exiles, explores the eccentric community of English and American expatriates in late nineteenth century Florence. Earlier garden books include Icons of Twentieth Century Landscape Design, and Policies and Pleasances, A Guide to Scotland’s Gardens.

Chris Beardshaw is an award winning garden designer, television presenter and author. He trained in horticulture and landscape design and after lecturing widely, now focuses on fronting and co-hosting tv programmes such as The Flying Gardener, Hidden Gardens, Gardeners World, Great Garden Detectives, and the most recent series British Gardens in Time. He also runs his own practice, splitting his time between designing, lecturing, broadcasting, writing, campaigning and working with charities such as The Woodland Trust, The Salvation Army, The Environment Agency and The National Lottery.

Commissioned photography by Nathan Harrison with extensive archive from many historical sources. Nathan is an experienced wildlife photographer and camera-man.