Brown work protected for 300th anniversary

TEMPLE NEWSAM is among landscapes created by celebrated garden designer Capability Brown which are being protected to mark the 300th anniversary of his birth.
Temple Newsam in Leeds is being protected as part of the anniversary celebrations marking 300 years since the birth of Capability BrownTemple Newsam in Leeds is being protected as part of the anniversary celebrations marking 300 years since the birth of Capability Brown
Temple Newsam in Leeds is being protected as part of the anniversary celebrations marking 300 years since the birth of Capability Brown

The National Heritage List entry for Temple Newsam has been updated while other examples of his work across the country have been added or upgraded.

A new online map is being launched, created by Government heritage agency Historic England, which will allow people to explore the landscapes from a bird’s eye view with new aerial photography and shows which areas and buildings are listed as protected.

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Lancelot “Capability” Brown, who gained his nickname because he would tell clients their estates had great “capability” for improvements to the landscape, transformed the look of 18th century country house gardens.

He removed formal planting in favour of an idealised “natural” landscape, moving hills, making flowing lakes and serpentine rivers, draining marshland to create lakes and even moving an entire village out of sight.

Heritage Minister Tracey Crouch said: “Capability Brown was a pioneer in landscape design, whose stunning work is still revered 300 years on at beautiful locations throughout the country.”

Harewood House and Burton Constable are other examples of his work in the region.