Painshill Park in Cobham is a breathtaking 18th-century garden, offering walks that transport you straight into a picturesque painting. The park, constructed by politician Charles Hamilton between 1738 and 1773, boasts a crystal grotto, a gothic tower, and its very own vineyard.
Over the nearly three centuries since its inception, the park has been a beloved spot for several Royals, including Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, and her daughters. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also graced the park with their presence in the 1840s.
After restoration efforts in the 70s and 80s, Sarah, Duchess of York, and Prince William have both made appearances at Painshill. Other notable visitors include early American presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Hamilton envisioned the park as a ‘living painting’, complete with lakes, open parkland, and a variety of ornamental buildings.
Drawing inspiration from numerous landscape paintings, Hamilton added everything from a crystal grotto to a Turkish tent, a Gothic Temple and a Temple of Bacchus, to the grounds.
The latter housed a statue of Bacchus, which Hamilton had transported back to England from one of his European Tours. While no longer inside the temple, this statue can now be admired outside of the gift shop.
While many of the park’s features are purely decorative, Charles also introduced a vineyard, which began producing wine in the 1750s. The vineyard was later replaced with rustic steps in 1903, but was restored to its original purpose in the 1990s when grapevines were replanted.
In 1773, just a year after Charles added his final creation – a ruined abbey – to the park, he was forced to sell the gardens to Benjamin Bond Hopkins due to mounting debts. Although Benjamin largely preserved Painshill as it was, subsequent owners continued to alter the landscape.
Source: express.co.uk