A History of English Gardens: The Stuarts

Taught online - from 23rd January 2025

An introduction to English gardens, this course will run in tandem with research for a new publication for Penguin, Random House: The Best 500 Gardens of England. It’s the perfect time to study, in-depth the stories and the development of some remarkable English gardens.

A History of English Gardens: The Stuarts

After the death of Elizabeth I and the almost explosive new reign of James I, what happened to the gardens of England?  James inherited from Elizabeth, his 1st cousin twice removed, a throne and debt of over £117,000. Alas, James couldn’t help himself, Bishop Hacket said of him ‘for thrift and saving he could never be brought to think of them’. James’ motto should have been ‘spend spend spend’ because like a lottery winner he couldn’t stop.  He had his eye on the greatest gardens of the time, the biggest and best palaces, making his courtiers swap properties with him. His court entertainments were lavish and spectacular. His masques, dances, gardens, and palaces just weren’t enough to keep him happy. James had his eye on some of the greatest gardens and made them his own or gave them to his family members.

Course highlights include

·      Inigo Jones, designer of the century.

·      Water gardens, ponds moats & marvels.

·      The Palace of Audley End ‘too big for a king’

·      The Tradescants, intrepid plant hunters and explorers.

·      Francis Carew & the orange tree.

·      Exotic animals and menageries in the garden.

·      Salomon and Isaac de Caus & their grottos and automata.

·      Andrè Mollet’s designs for Henrietta Maria at Wimbledon.

·      The new gardens at Wollaton Hall.

·      Wilton House & the fountain of three rainbows.

Information

10 WEEK ONLINE COURSE

Our online Zoom course will begin on Thursday 23rd January 2025 from 6 pm-7.30 pm GMT.
We will confirm an in-person option in due course.

*CHRISTMAS EARLY BIRD OFFER BUY BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON 14th DECEMBER AND GET £25.00 OFF - THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT!

Use the code SANTA25 at checkout.