LONDON STATUES -LANDSCAPE GARDENERS
Kew Gardens
Landscape Gardening is an awkward category to pin down. It sits somewhere between architecture, engineering, horticulture and even social reform. In the end, I decided to give my three subjects their own post - please read on (it won't take long).
Inigo Jones (1573–1652)
Although best known as the architect who introduced classical Palladian design to Britain, Inigo Jones also played a crucial role in the early development of landscaped spaces. His work on garden design - particularly at royal palaces - helped shift English tastes away from medieval layouts towards more Italian-inspired creations. Jones designed the Queen’s House at Greenwich, one of Britain’s most influential buildings. He also designed elaborate stage sets for court masques. But he fell out of fashion after the Civil War and died in relative obscurity.
Albert Memorial Chiswick House
Chiswick House was built after Inigo Jones had died. But his statue stands at the main entrance - in recognition of his influence on the architects of this Neo-Palladian villa and its gardens.
Chiswick House and Gardens
This gateway, designed by Inigo Jones in 1621, stood at Beauford House in Chelsea. It was bought and rebuilt in the gardens at Chiswick in 1738.
In 1966 the Beatles shot promotional films in the gardens at Chiswick House for Paperback Writer and its flipside Rain.
Lancelot “Capability” Brown was the dominant figure in English landscape gardening in the 18th century, reshaping hundreds of estates with sweeping lawns, serpentine lakes and carefully positioned clumps of trees. Brown swept away formal gardens, straight avenues and parterres, replacing them with rolling parkland designed to look effortlessly picturesque. He earned his nickname from his habit of telling clients their estates had “great capabilities”. Brown's influence was such that his style became the default look of the English country house for generations.
Riverside Walk, Hammersmith
I was thinking, given the subject, that
landscape would be a more appropriate orientation than
portrait. These are my best efforts ....
Capability Brown worked on more than 170 estates, including Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth and Kew Gardens. He often dammed rivers to create lakes - many of which people think are natural to this day.
Brown lived near here beside the River Thames, but it still seems rather odd that his statue stands on a spot totally devoid of vegetation. I discussed this (and street art and Spoons pubs) at length with a friendly passer-by who kindly directed me to a nearby 'secret' mural ....
This is a very popular stretch of the Thames for walkers, joggers and cyclists. But they are mostly oblivious to this splendid panorama of the Thames by Snugone. It can be found (with difficulty) on the wall of a sunken garden surrounded by private residences (132-157 Rainville Road) and not visible from any public thoroughfare.
Wilkinson was a pioneering landscape gardener and a key figure in the creation of London’s early public green spaces. At a time when women were largely excluded from the profession, she became one of the first female professional landscape gardeners in Britain.... and helped design and improve public gardens and burial grounds. She believed green spaces were essential to health, dignity and social wellbeing. Her work quietly shaped everyday London life rather than grand private estates - which makes her legacy all the more significant.
Coronation Gardens, Southfields
Wilkinson designed Coronation Gardens in Southfields in 1903, including the drinking fountain there, but her bronze figure was not added until the fountain was fully restored in 2025.
Fanny Wilkinson's park may be modest compared to the grand vistas of her predecessors, but that feels entirely appropriate - a green urban space open to all, quietly doing the job she believed gardens should do.
For obvious reasons (which differ in English and American English), Fanny has fallen out of favour as a given name. I can only recall encountering one Fanny in my lifetime - the daughter of the star of the 1948 Olympic Games. Poor Fanny - having to regularly disappoint people (including my friend Tony) who ask "Are you THE Fanny Blankers-Koen?"
Anyhow, that's enough fannying about - here are some photos I grabbed of an elderly gentleman chaining his penny farthing to a post in Sloane Square before heading towards the tube.
This aside has sweet FA (Fanny Adams) to with landscape gardening; but it would seem a shame to waste such a scoop.
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never heard of fanny and she deserves to be much better known
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