Brown, Kent, and Bridgeman

      The work of ‘Capability’ Brown was the most influential of most people of garden design today. From the eighteenth century, this English landscape architect has designed over 170 parks during his time and his influence was very powerful. His style involved smooth, cleanly kept grass running right up to the house was a good example of his more informal style. A scattering of trees and greenery, among large ponds and small lakes strewn throughout the landscape were also a new staple to his style. Coming out of a time where formal gardens with embroidery like patterns of green were the must have, ‘Capability” Brown introduced the more informal ‘gardenless’ type of gardening and landscape, where it looked much more natural and vast. Brown was such a mastermind behind this new style, and it took off into the future as a new form of landscape design.

William Kent, another originator of the English Landscape garden, also followed the more naturalistic side of gardening. His natural style was incorporated into gardens and estates. While Kent came before brown, he initiated the movement of the naturalistic approach for Brown. His greatest achievement is that of the Chiswick House in Stowe and is one of the earliest examples of English Landscape gardening. Incorporating vast greenery, paths, water features, and many trees. Kent also believed in the informal garden, where nature was ruled by God and not man.

Charles Bridgeman was in fact the first of all gardeners of the natural landscape design, and came before both Kent and Brown. He stood at the forefront of the transitions from formal, patterned landscapes, into informal English Landscape garden design. While Bridgeman was still in some ways influenced by the previous formality of straight lines and hedges, he began to incorporate the idea of a more wild scenery scattered about. By bringing in vast lawns, statues, winding paths, wooded areas, and garden buildings among the more formal features kept in the garden design, Bridgeman was both formal and informal in his innovative actions. However, he did pave the way for the future of English Landscape Design and gardening.