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Painshill was created between 1738 and 1773 by the Hon Charles Hamilton, 9th son and 14th child of 6th Earl of Abercorn. A painter, plantsman and brilliantly gifted and imaginative designer, he dedicated his creative genius to the layout and composition of a landscape garden which was unique in Europe and still remains so. Hamilton was educated at Westminster and Oxford, where he formed a lifelong friendship with Stephen and Henry Fox, wealthy sons and heirs of Sir Stephen Fox. Hamilton joined two Grand Tour's of Europe, first in 1725 with Stephen Fox and later in 1732 with Henry Fox, that cultivated his great interest in the arts. In 1738, Hamilton began to acquire the land at Painshill which over the years built up to over 250 acres. Painshill was created as a romantic landscape to stimulate the senses and emotions of the visitor. Hamilton was in the vanguard of the picturesque movement. The gardens were divided into two parts; the ornamental pleasure grounds to the south, with the lake as the central feature, and an adjoining crescent of open parkland to the north in a free and natural style. The gardens were among the earliest to reflect the changing fashion from geometric formality to the naturalistic style. Painshill was also very much a garden of 'mood' which changed from one part of the grounds to another. Hamilton eventually ran out of money and sold the estate in 1773.
Tags:  Painshill Park Cobham attraction surrey gardens cobham surrey landscape garden 18th century landscape park Charles Hamilton hamilton landscapes