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Painshill Park, Surrey

Painshill Park was the vision of Charles Hamilton, a young nobleman who, in common with many young eighteenth century aristocrats, spent time in his youth on a Grand Tour of Europe. After his return to England, using inspirations gathered on his tour, Hamilton set about creating a "pleasure garden" where visitors would see living pictures. Ironically the European art which inspired Hamilton to create Painshill Park resulted in the planned naturalistic landscape for which England is famous. Built between 1738 and 1773 this is one of the earliest of all English park landscapes. It is also typically English in the way fanciful "folly" buildings are used to create additional drama amongst the natural settings. There is a "Ruined Abbey" built as a ruin, an underground grotto, a Gothic Temple (with a Sound of Music summerhouse feel to it) and a Gothic Tower.

 

After many years of neglect Painshill Park has been restored. The restoration has aimed to reproduce the garden as closely as possible to Hamilton's original vision. There are no rhododendrons in this garden to cater to modern tastes. This faithfulness to restoration adds to the sense that you are in a different landscape.

The walk around Painshill Park was a symbolic journey. While I don't claim to know what was in the mind of Hamilton and his contemporaries as they walked around Painshill, I know what my own feelings were. On my walk I made my way through an undulating landscape in which even the potential for decay and ruin was a planned part of the overall picture. The eighteenth century was the time when man was gaining mastery over nature. There was no virgin landscape: man's influence was all-pervasive and the whole landscape was in a sense becoming a park. It seemed as though man was becoming a guider of life, rather than a puppet of it. The patterns of growth and decay, happiness and sadness could actually be created, even as we found ourselves amongst them. And yet, for me at least, the overall pattern of the walk served as a reminder that in controlling the patterns of life we are also part of them. The walk rises through a series of undulations up to a high point at the far end of the lake. At the midpoint in your journey you reach a peak, quite literally, climbing the ninety nine steps of the Gothic Tower to look at the wonderful views, which can extend to Canary Wharf in the east and Windsor Castle in the west. In the mid point of life people usually reach the peak of their careers. They stand on the top of their towers, and wonder which way to go next. From that point the journey around the park does not continue, but turns back on itself, running downhill again. There is a pause for rest and reflection at the Turkish tent with more wonderful views, and then a return back to the beginning. As with all cycles, there is no end, only new beginnings. The journey does not lead to a final goal. There is disappointment, and once beautiful abbeys lie in ruins. But there is always the new hope, of a circle starting again. The fact that the picture is beautiful gives a hopeful slant, even to the quieter, more melancholy areas, such as the ruined abbey.

Anyway this could just be the ramblings of a man in his forties, and we all know about them. But then again even if I do see nothing but myself in the park, perhaps that's the point. We see ourselvesin nature, creating nature even as it creates us. Go along and see what you make of it.

There are two main walks around the park. The first is about one and a half miles and suitable for wheelchair users or families with prams. The second is about two and a half miles and includes some steep inclines. There are numerous species of birds and wildlife to be enjoyed in the woods and around the lake.

 

 

The Gothic Tower

Painshill Park is an independent concern, with no links to large organisations such as English Heritage or the National Trust. The Park, therefore constantly struggles for funds, and lacks the publicity that properties within the large organisations enjoy. Painshill is a wonderful, artistic landscape and deserves to be more widely known. It is perhaps my favourite garden and I urge you to visit. Go at Christmas time and Father Christmas will be in the underground grotto. Santa's visit is a popular event, so book ahead. On our visit children were enjoying the fanciful buildings. There are activity sheets for children, and craft workshops in the attractive visitors' centre. This is a good place to visit as a family.

There is a shop and restaurant.

On Sundays there are free samples of the wine produced from Painshill vineyards available. Home produced honey is also for sale as well as books and seasonal toys.

Opening Times: The Park is open throughout the year. From March to October 10.30am - 6pm or dusk if earlier, last entry 4.30pm. From November to February 10.30am - 4pm, last entry 3pm. The park is closed 25th - 26th December. Dogs are sometimes allowed on leads. Check before you visit.

Directions: Painshill Park is close to junction 10 of the M25. Follow the A245 towards Cobham. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on Painshill Park.

Access: there is designated parking, and a relatively flat disabled route around the lake of about one and a half miles in length. Wheelchairs are available on loan. There are adapted toilet facilities.

Contact:

telephone: 01932 868 113

e-mail: info@painshill.co.uk

View From the Gothic Tower