1 Sep 2005 - Keeping in Touch - NOTES FROM BRENT ARCHIVE - The Prospect from Barn Hill
We owe the belt of trees around Barn Hill to the landscape architect Humphry Repton, who made improvements to Richard Page's estate in 1793. Brent Archive has photocopies from Repton's 1794 book, 'Sketches & Hints on Landscape Gardening', where he uses examples from 'the park at Wembley' to explain his design techniques.
One section is illustrated by before and after drawings of the 'view from the tower', a building he describes as 'the prospect on the hill'. This provided a place from which visitors to Mr Page's estate could admire the views, 'as well as forming a dwelling house for those who should have the care of the prospect rooms, and the dairy'.
Repton decreed that introducing cattle to the grass land between the hill and the mansion would 'enliven the scene', as meadows simply mowed for hay lacked interest. He removed many of the single trees, which caused 'evident confusion' in the view, and created a 'breadth of light and shade' with well placed clumps of trees. One of these, at the top of a low rise towards Sudbury, was designed to ensure that 'the attention of the spectator is no longer attracted by the smoke of the limekiln'.
Unfortunately, we have no picture of what Repton's tower looked like, but the old bricks found while clearing vegetation on the top of Barn Hill (see display in 'the barn' at the Walled Garden) may be a relic of this historic building.
A 'Brent's Hidden Gardens' exhibition, featuring Roe Green Walled Garden, will be visiting several libraries in the borough as one of the 2005/2006 Grange Museum Touring Exhibitions. Pick up a leaflet in your local library from September 2005 onwards for details of where and when you can see it!
Philip Grant
One section is illustrated by before and after drawings of the 'view from the tower', a building he describes as 'the prospect on the hill'. This provided a place from which visitors to Mr Page's estate could admire the views, 'as well as forming a dwelling house for those who should have the care of the prospect rooms, and the dairy'.
Repton decreed that introducing cattle to the grass land between the hill and the mansion would 'enliven the scene', as meadows simply mowed for hay lacked interest. He removed many of the single trees, which caused 'evident confusion' in the view, and created a 'breadth of light and shade' with well placed clumps of trees. One of these, at the top of a low rise towards Sudbury, was designed to ensure that 'the attention of the spectator is no longer attracted by the smoke of the limekiln'.
Unfortunately, we have no picture of what Repton's tower looked like, but the old bricks found while clearing vegetation on the top of Barn Hill (see display in 'the barn' at the Walled Garden) may be a relic of this historic building.
A 'Brent's Hidden Gardens' exhibition, featuring Roe Green Walled Garden, will be visiting several libraries in the borough as one of the 2005/2006 Grange Museum Touring Exhibitions. Pick up a leaflet in your local library from September 2005 onwards for details of where and when you can see it!
Philip Grant