It's the sixth time I've visited this wonderful place, first discovered when a Facebook friend posted a beautiful picture of the one of the follies, which got me planning.
Painshill is an 18th century landscaped garden, created between 1738 and 1773 by the Hon. Charles Hamilton, who was the 9th son and 14th child of the Sixth Earl of Abercorn. He embarked on two Grand Tours (the classical education for aristocratic young men in Georgian England, the intention being to cultivate their taste in European culture) ending up in Rome, before acquiring the land of Painshill. His vision was to create "living paintings" in a new style of magical garden, designed to surprise and delight. Inspired by the art and architecture he had seen, the result was a series of magical follies in a breathtaking landscape vista.
Everything you see here has been created (during faithful restoration of the garden since 1981- it had been allowed to fall into ruin) and works with the natural landscape.
It's a 2.6 mile walk from Cobham Stoke d'Arbernon railway station, which took us directly beside the River Mole.
These two swans were being obtuse, and seemed to want to fish for food alternately, rather than posing for us...
This is a SuperDean photograph, as he managed to snap the swans complying with our wishes!
Cedar House, which was once a stately home, is reflected in the water.
Cobham Mill was completed in about 1822, for the production of animal feed. Allowed to descend into neglect during the last century, restoration of the mill was completed in 1992, and it's open as a tourist attraction- just not on this particular day.
This is another SuperDean photo, taken with his phone whilst standing in front of Cedar House, looking back down the River Mole as we made our way back to the station in the afternoon. The town is picture-postcard perfect.
This isn't going to be a detailed blog as I've blogged about Painshill Park three times before. I'm just going to include a few pictures which inspired me throughout the day.
My link from September 2017:-
My link from February 2018:-
My link from February 2019:-
This tree was down the Fir Walk, and the red cones reminded me of fingers, with the middle finger sticking up. This tree was making its feelings perfectly clear and giving me the bird!
Inside the Gothic Temple, and the view over the vista featuring the Turkish Tent and Five-Arch Bridge.
When King George III (1738-1820) visited, he said that this was his favourite view at Painshill.
The Great Cedar is more than 250 years old, and is the height of nine double-decker buses stacked on top of one another!
The back of the Ruined Abbey. It was originally built as a screen to hide the kilns needed for Painshill's commercial operation of brick making, as the park did not generate an income.
Could the ruins in front of the arch be a part of those kilns?
It was the first folly to undergo an archaeological investigation, in 1984, and ducts between wall were revealed.
Here's Dean doing his own investigation...
The Ruined Abbey central arch from the front.
The excavation also revealed kiln arches and this is what Dean seems nonplussed by, at the side of the Ruined Abbey- before we'd re-read the history...
I thought I looked rather bedraggled, so didn't want my photo taken. I was also suffering from the remnants of an ear infection which- although mild- caused a bit of swelling in my face.
Do you think triple leopard print (top, scarf, and it features on the bracelet) too much? I don't, and only regret that I forgot to add my leopard print earrings...😆
This was taken on the way to the Grotto. It looks like something from The Wicker Man...
This is the Rockwork Arch, and is made of oolitic (egg stone) limestone, quarried near bath. It reminds me of impacted skulls, which was the idea.
Water cascading into pools are a feature inside the Grotto, along with stalactites made of crystals...
After becoming derelict in the mid 1940s, the Grotto began to be restored in 1986.
The main chamber and mysterious passages are lined with calcite, quartz, fluorite, gypsum and other stones and minerals.
Looking out over a rock pool, onto the lake...
Now and then it's possible to take a photograph that's just perfect, and requires no tweaking. This is such a photo, and a friend quipped that it reminded him of "The Lady In The Lake," which comes from Arthurian legend.
Crossing away from Grotto Island, and looking back down the lake towards the Ruined Abbey.
The Mausoleum.
The Five-Arch Bridge, with a sleeping swan to one side...
Its friend, and the first time the SuperDean saw a swan sleeping like this, with its head under its wing, he though it was either poorly or dead!
The Waterwheel wasn't working on this day, and looked like it could do with a lick of paint. It's normally a deep shade of red.
Nature can be fascinating sometimes, like these tree roots.
The Temple of Bacchus from below. Its restoration is now complete.
I thought this photo of the Gothic Tower with a pylon in front of it an interesting juxtaposition.
Vandals set fire to it in 1973, and it was restored and reopened in 1989, by Sarah, Duchess of York (before she said goodbye to royal life.) I've seen this ceremony on TV, and she got much criticism for behaving in an informal manner and becoming fascinated by a ladybird at her feet. Shame. I rather liked her spontaneous approach.
The Temple of Bacchus.
The Statue of Bacchus stands at the entrance to Painshill. What you see here is actually a cardboard cut out...
Closer view and the restoration is very impressive.
View from behind the temple, and it's quire a precarious drop down...
Painshill combines the three key elements of 18th century landscape garden design, which are trees, water and grass...
The back of the Turkish Tent.
Another naturally perfect photo, featuring the Five-Arch Bridge and the Gothic Temple.
Down at ground level. Moody skies and the Cedar of Lebanon (not to be confused with the Great Cedar), on Grotto Island in the distance.
It's also important to pay attention underfoot, as many areas have been planted in the style of a wild meadow. Here are some buttercups...
...And here are some forget-me-nots.
And who could forget Painshill after visiting it? It's an experience which stays imprinted on the mind.
I shall return.
Until then,
TTFN
The Miss Elaineous.
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