Who was Lancelot "Capability"
Brown?
Landscape Gardener and designer.
Date and Place of Birth:
1715, Kirkharle, Northumberland, England. Christened
Lancelot. The nickname "Capability" comes form his habit
of telling all his clients that "This place has a lot of capabilities".
Family Background:
Son of William Browne from Yeoman stock.
Education:
No formal education.
Chronology/Biography of "Capability"
Brown:
Began work as a gardener's boy in Northumberland.
1720: Death of his
father.
1732: Apprenticed
to Sir William Lorraine at Kirkharle Hall.
The Gardens at Kirkharle Hall are now being restored to
Brown's plan including the lake.
(© Anthony Blagg)
1739: Leaves the
Family home.
1740: Begins working
for Lord Cobham at Stowe.
1742: Obtained a
post at Stowe, one of the most influential gardens of the day. He
was responsible for showing wealthy visitors around the garden and
got to know many of the nobility. He worked under William Kent and
then set up his own business after Kent's death.
1749: Death of Lord
Cobham.
1751: Sets up his
first private gardening business. Begins work at Croome Park, Worcestershire.
By 1753: He was
known as the leading improver of grounds in England. He received
his nickname due to his often-used phrase when looking at a garden.
"This place has a lot of capabilities".
1755: Works at Burghley
Park.
1751- 57: Worked
on designs for Petworth House, West Sussex. Bought the Lordship
of the Manor of Fenstanton and Hilton in Cambridgeshire.
1760: He created
a lake at Wakefield Lodge for the Duke of Grafton. Begins work at
Blenheim Palace home of the Duke of Marlborough.
1764: Becomes Surveyor
to His Majesty's Gardens and Waters at Hampton Court.
1770: Appointed
as the High Sherrif of Huntingdon.
Brown's Plan of Kirkhale Gardens was found in a desk in
the Hall
in 1830 by Major Thomas Anderson who bought the house from the Lorraine
family.
(© Anthony Blagg)
1773: Works at Kew
Gardens.
1777: Works at Cardiff
Castle.
Marriage:
To Bridget Wayet on 22nd November 1744, at St.
Mary's Church, Hove, Sussex.
Date and Place of Death:
6th February 1783, London, England.
Age at Death:
68.
Site of Grave:
Buried next to his wife in the parish churchyard
at Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire. There is also a memorial to him on
the wall of the chancel inside the church.
Places of Interest:
AVON:
Prior Park, Bath
HEREFORDSHIRE:
Berrington Hall.
OXFORDSHIRE:
Blenheim Palace.
NORTHUMBERLAND:
Kirkharle Hall Gardens and Craft Centre, Kirkharle
Hall.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE:
Clumber Park.
SUSSEX:
Petworth House
Sheffield Park
WARWICKSHIRE:
Charlecote Park
WORCESTERSHIRE:
Croome Park
