Claremont Landscape Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Claremont Landscape Garden |
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Lake and amphitheatre (left)
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| Type | English garden |
| Location | Elmbridge, Surrey |
| Area | 49 acres (20 ha) |
| Created | 1715-1727 |
| Operated by | National Trust |
| Open | All year round |
| Designation | Grade I |
Claremont Landscape Garden is a beautiful and historic garden. It is located near Esher, Surrey, England. This garden is one of the oldest surviving examples of an English Landscape Garden. This style of garden design tries to make nature look even more beautiful. The garden still has its original layout from the 1700s. It is so important that it is listed as a Grade I historic park.
History of the Garden
Claremont Landscape Garden was first created for Claremont House. Many famous garden designers worked on it. These included Charles Bridgeman, Capability Brown, William Kent, and Sir John Vanbrugh.
Work on the gardens started around 1715. By 1727, people were saying it was "the noblest of any in Europe."
The Amphitheatre
Inside the garden, you can find a special grass amphitheatre. It overlooks the lake. This unique spot used to be the main stage for a yearly event. It was called the Claremont Fête champêtre. Hundreds of people would come to Claremont for this event. They often wore costumes related to a different theme each year. They enjoyed four days of music, theatre, and fireworks.
Who Looks After the Garden?
The Belvedere Tower is also within the garden grounds. Sir John Vanbrugh designed this tower for the Duke of Newcastle. The tower is very interesting. What look like windows are actually bricks painted black and white. This is a special art trick called Trompe-l'œil. The tower is now owned by Claremont Fan Court School. The school is right next to the gardens.
In 1949, the Claremont Landscape Garden was given to the National Trust. The National Trust is a charity that protects historic places and natural beauty. They took over looking after the garden. At first, a local council managed it. They could only do basic things like cutting the grass.
In 1974, the National Trust took full control again. A big project to restore the garden started in 1975. This was possible thanks to a generous donation from the Slater Foundation.
Getting There
The entrance to the garden is right off the A307, Portsmouth Road. You can take buses from Kingston on Thames, Esher, and Guildford. They stop nearby. The road used to be closer to the lake. But in 1771, Robert Clive had it moved further north to where it is now.
Gallery
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Belvedere Tower
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Grass amphitheatre
