The Gardens and Parks at Hampton Court Palace [Hardcover]

Todd Longstaffe-Gowan (Author), Vivian Russell (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2005

Hampton Court Palace has the finest Baroque park and garden layout in Britain. Set within 2,000 acres of parkland and bounded on its south and east sides by the River Thames, the historic landscape possesses a rich overlay of garden improvements from the early 16th to the 21st centuries. This book explores the history of this landscape. Among the many themes it addresses are the role and impact of patrons, designers and estate workers; planting and horticultural techniques; statuary, fountains and other garden ornaments; and maintenance and conservation. The photographs by Vivian Russell that accompany the text constitute the most comprehensive topographical survey of the palace's gardens since the late 18th century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... useful for serious enthusiasts of garden history, and also provides a pleasant look at these famous gardens for the more casual garden reader. Both of these audiences cannot fail to be drawn to the comprehensive mix of illustrations, ranging from those of the 16th century to colourful photographs of Vivian Russell. Rather like Hampton Court Palace itself, there is something for everybody and no-one will be disappointed Garden

About the Author

Todd Longstaffe-Gowan is Gardens Adviser to Hampton Court Palace and Vice Chairman of the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust. He lectures on landscape history and is a regular contributor to publications including Country Life, the Times, the Sunday Telegraph and World of Interiors. Contributor image: A(c) Charlie Hopkinson Vivian Russell is a writer and photographer. An American by birth, she has lived in England and France for most of her life. Her book Monet's Garden won two Garden Writers' Guild Awards. She was a regular contributor to Gardens Illustrated for many years and now writes and photographs for the Daily Telegraph gardening supplement.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln (May 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711223688
• ISBN-13: 978-0711223684
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,146,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five centuries of gardening. The gardens & parks of Hampton Court Palace, August 27, 2006

By 

C. H. Hinton (Titirangi. New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gardens and Parks at Hampton Court Palace (Hardcover)

A well organised and attractively produced book giving a scholarly account of the history of these magnificent and much loved Gardens. Hampton Court Palace is the finest of English Renaissance gardens and of great importance to any student of horticulture and garden or landscape history.
The avenues and the venerable ancient trees of the parks along with the even older pruned and pleached trees of the formal gardens are among the treasures of the gardens. Along with the newly restored privy garden, the statuary and the architecture these are well illustrated with photos and drawings ancient and modern

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A STUNNING JOURNAL OF GARDENS AND PARKS, July 16, 2005

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Gardens and Parks at Hampton Court Palace (Hardcover)

Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, Gardens Adviser to Hampton Court Palace and Vice Chairman of the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust, and photographer Vivian Russell have combined their considerable talents to offer readers, most especially garden enthusiasts, a stunning journal of the gardens and parks at Hampton Court Palace.

Not only is Hampton Court an historic landscape covering 2,000 acres, bounded on its south and east sides by the River Thames, it is also a site of great antiquity indicating that there were settlements in the site dating back to the Bronze Age. However the estate began to form very much as it is seen today in 1086. It was in 1514 that Hampton Court was leased by Cardinal Wolsey, until he became persona non grata at court and was forced to leave by Henry VIII.

As soon as the estate was under his care Henry began a 20 year building, the like of which had not been seen. Since that time various royals have left their marks upon the estate as it has been used as a guest house. Queen Victoria declared that the palace "should be thrown open to all her subjects without restriction, and without fee or gratuity of any kind.." While this order was not deemed wise by many, the palace did become a popular vacation resort.

The gardens were neglected during World War I, but by 1919 improvements were being overseen by a committee of horticultural and landscape garden experts. Since the early 1990s major restoration work has taken place within the palace which has been coordinated with landscape improvements. Today, the estate stands as a "great emblem and monument of English history," and attracts over a million visitors every year.

Thanks to Longstaffe-Gowan and Russell for making it also available to armchair travelers.

- Gail Cooke

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on Hampton Palace/Gardens, February 17, 2009

By 

Sherrill "Global Glam Ma" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gardens and Parks at Hampton Court Palace (Hardcover)

A hard earned lesson I have learned is when traveling to Europe or Asia notice all of those gorgeous hardbound books for sale everywhere & then buy them when returning home from websites. I used to ship them all home & still enjoy them when I need a "fix" but I finally got smart!

Especially now with luggage being weighed & having to pay the price (the worse is on inter-Europe flights!!) ....this book was one I saw in the gift shop at all of the British Palaces & it is fantastic. The photography is the best & I highly recommend it. I visited with my daughter & cousin & this captures forever my wonderful day at the royal's Disneyland!!! Even has costumed people strolling around speaking a la 1500 English.....