Grovelands Park – Repton and Nash

Southgate Grove c.1797

John Nash

John Nash was born in 1752, the son of a Lambeth Millwright. He became an architect following a short apprenticeship with the renowned architect Sir Robert Taylor. John Nash is renowned for several architectural styles including Gothic, Italianate, Palladian and Greek, however, his style is normally described as neo-classical.

He is famous for many London landmarks including the layout of Trafalgar Square and Regent Street, Carlton House Terrace, Cumberland Terrace, The Royal Mews, Haymarket Theatre, the Church of All Souls at Langham Place, Buckingham Palace and Marble Arch. Marble Arch was originally built to stand at the end of the Mall, but as the State Coach was too wide to fit through the arch, it was moved to Hyde Park Corner and became known as Marble Arch. Outside of London, John Nash is best known for his work on the remodeling of the Brighton Pavilion.

In 1811 John Nash was asked to produce plans to develop an area known as Marylebone Park. Nash envisaged a “garden city” with villas, terraced houses, a canal, crescents and lakes. The then Prince Regent, George IV, supported and financed Nash’s plans, which took 15 years to complete. Although some of the more ambitious plans were never realised, the white-stucco terraces on the perimeter of St James and Regents Park are typical Nash architecture.

John Nash died in 1835 aged 82 and is remembered as “the great planner of London”.

The Partnership
Grovelands Park is Grade II on the Register of Historic Landscapes and Gardens because it is a typical example of the Repton and Nash collaboration. Whilst living in Wales, John Nash met and later developed a successful partnership with landscape garden designer, Humphry Repton, who firmly believed in considering the house and its place in the landscape that surrounded it. Their partnership involved a design where Repton would landscape the grounds, surrounding a country house designed by Nash. Together they worked on many successful commissions, including Regents Park, St James Park, The Brighton Pavilion, Blaise Hamlet and Grovelands Park. John Nash designed Grovelands House using Stucco and Portland Stone. The motif within the arch, surrounding the ground floor windows is unique to Nash.

East front, view from across lake c.1900

Today the park has changed a little. The country house (now a private hospital) still stands in sweeping grounds, leading to a lake, with the boundaries disguised with many trees.

Grovelands Park Lake
Photo by Anne Bryan

Humphrey Repton

Humphry Repton was born in 1752 at Bury St Edmonds, the son of a collector of taxes. His family wanted him to become a prosperous Norwich merchant, however, he had other interests and spent 5 years studying such subjects as nature, gardening, botany and entomology. Humphry Repton published a book of Sketches and Hints on landscape gardening in 1795 and went on to publish four more books. Humphry Repton would produce bound volumes, known as “Red Books” for his clients, which would show the garden in a before and after state using detailed water-colours and illustrations.

Humphry Repton believed that a successful landscape garden required “the powers of the landscape painter and the practical gardener”. Humphry Repton believed in considering the house and its place in the landscape that surrounded it, in his designs. He believed in making the transition from a terrace near the house, through a serpentine park to a distant view, introducing separate flowerbeds, gravel walks and small flowerbeds of various plants. He felt the garden should display the natural beauty of the area, whilst hiding any defects such as evidence of ploughed fields or labour, and disguising boundary lines.

Humphry Repton undertook more than 400 commissions during his 30-year career, working for a variety of clients including the Dukes of Portland and Bedford. His work is said to epitomise the “landscape garden”. Humphry Repton was keen to follow in the footsteps of Capability Brown and indeed became his successor. However, much of his work was undertaken during the Napoleonic Wars and he felt that he did not have the same opportunities and resources as Brown. Humphry Repton worked on many successful commissions including Tatton Park in Cheshire, Woburn Abbey, Harewood House, Bayham Abbey, Longleat, Sheringham Park and Betchworth House.

Humphry Repton died in 1818 and is buried in the churchyard at Aylsham in Norfolk. For further information on Grovelands Park (link to info) or any other park, Please pick up any of the free information leaflets available from Libraries, The Civic Centre, Park Visitor Centres or visit the Council’s website.

Location
Grovelands Park
The Bourne
Southgate
London
N14 6RA
Map

Transport Links
Grovelands Park is situated in Winchmore Hill, with the main entrance to the park in The Bourne. There is good public transport access from Southgate Circus and you can get there by buses 298, 121, 299, 611 and W6. The nearest train stations are Southgate Underground or Winchmore Hill (British Rail) Stations.

For journey times use the TFL Journey Planner.

Useful Links
Grovelands Park

Contact Us

Address:
Parks Business Unit
PO Box 52
Civic Centre
Silver Street
Enfield
EN1 3XD
Map

Email:
parksbusinessunit@enfield.gov.uk

Telephone:
020 8379 1000

Fax:
020 8379 3785

This document was last updated on 2009-03-19 10:54:37 published by the Parks team. Document Reference:LBE_132659

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Directory: Home Contact us: Ask us a question Civic Centre Silver Street Enfield EN1 3XY Telephone: 020 8379 1000 Fax: 020 8379 4453 Textphone: 020 8379 4419 Note: Calls may be recorded. How to find us	A to Z of Services: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z .Translation. Grovelands Park – Repton and Nash Southgate Grove c.1797 John Nash John Nash was born in 1752, the son of a Lambeth Millwright. He became an architect following a short apprenticeship with the renowned architect Sir Robert Taylor. John Nash is renowned for several architectural styles including Gothic, Italianate, Palladian and Greek, however, his style is normally described as neo-classical. He is famous for many London landmarks including the layout of Trafalgar Square and Regent Street, Carlton House Terrace, Cumberland Terrace, The Royal Mews, Haymarket Theatre, the Church of All Souls at Langham Place, Buckingham Palace and Marble Arch. Marble Arch was originally built to stand at the end of the Mall, but as the State Coach was too wide to fit through the arch, it was moved to Hyde Park Corner and became known as Marble Arch. Outside of London, John Nash is best known for his work on the remodeling of the Brighton Pavilion. In 1811 John Nash was asked to produce plans to develop an area known as Marylebone Park. Nash envisaged a “garden city” with villas, terraced houses, a canal, crescents and lakes. The then Prince Regent, George IV, supported and financed Nash’s plans, which took 15 years to complete. Although some of the more ambitious plans were never realised, the white-stucco terraces on the perimeter of St James and Regents Park are typical Nash architecture. John Nash died in 1835 aged 82 and is remembered as “the great planner of London”. The Partnership Grovelands Park is Grade II on the Register of Historic Landscapes and Gardens because it is a typical example of the Repton and Nash collaboration. Whilst living in Wales, John Nash met and later developed a successful partnership with landscape garden designer, Humphry Repton, who firmly believed in considering the house and its place in the landscape that surrounded it. Their partnership involved a design where Repton would landscape the grounds, surrounding a country house designed by Nash. Together they worked on many successful commissions, including Regents Park, St James Park, The Brighton Pavilion, Blaise Hamlet and Grovelands Park. John Nash designed Grovelands House using Stucco and Portland Stone. The motif within the arch, surrounding the ground floor windows is unique to Nash. East front, view from across lake c.1900 Today the park has changed a little. The country house (now a private hospital) still stands in sweeping grounds, leading to a lake, with the boundaries disguised with many trees. Photo by Anne Bryan Humphrey Repton Humphry Repton was born in 1752 at Bury St Edmonds, the son of a collector of taxes. His family wanted him to become a prosperous Norwich merchant, however, he had other interests and spent 5 years studying such subjects as nature, gardening, botany and entomology. Humphry Repton published a book of Sketches and Hints on landscape gardening in 1795 and went on to publish four more books. Humphry Repton would produce bound volumes, known as “Red Books” for his clients, which would show the garden in a before and after state using detailed water-colours and illustrations. Humphry Repton believed that a successful landscape garden required “the powers of the landscape painter and the practical gardener”. Humphry Repton believed in considering the house and its place in the landscape that surrounded it, in his designs. He believed in making the transition from a terrace near the house, through a serpentine park to a distant view, introducing separate flowerbeds, gravel walks and small flowerbeds of various plants. He felt the garden should display the natural beauty of the area, whilst hiding any defects such as evidence of ploughed fields or labour, and disguising boundary lines. Humphry Repton undertook more than 400 commissions during his 30-year career, working for a variety of clients including the Dukes of Portland and Bedford. His work is said to epitomise the “landscape garden”. Humphry Repton was keen to follow in the footsteps of Capability Brown and indeed became his successor. However, much of his work was undertaken during the Napoleonic Wars and he felt that he did not have the same opportunities and resources as Brown. Humphry Repton worked on many successful commissions including Tatton Park in Cheshire, Woburn Abbey, Harewood House, Bayham Abbey, Longleat, Sheringham Park and Betchworth House. Humphry Repton died in 1818 and is buried in the churchyard at Aylsham in Norfolk. For further information on Grovelands Park (link to info) or any other park, Please pick up any of the free information leaflets available from Libraries, The Civic Centre, Park Visitor Centres or visit the Council’s website. Location Grovelands Park The Bourne Southgate London N14 6RA Map Transport Links Grovelands Park is situated in Winchmore Hill, with the main entrance to the park in The Bourne. There is good public transport access from Southgate Circus and you can get there by buses 298, 121, 299, 611 and W6. The nearest train stations are Southgate Underground or Winchmore Hill (British Rail) Stations. For journey times use the TFL Journey Planner. Useful Links Grovelands Park Contact Us Address: Parks Business Unit PO Box 52 Civic Centre Silver Street Enfield EN1 3XD Map Email: parksbusinessunit@enfield.gov.uk Telephone: 020 8379 1000 Fax: 020 8379 3785 This document was last updated on 2009-03-19 10:54:37 published by the Parks team. Document Reference:LBE_132659
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