Repton revisited
NEW light is being shed on Humphry Repton’s remarkable body of work in the bicentenary year of his death. At a symposium at the Garden Museum, London SE1, in November, the Gardens Trust revealed the results of new research, which substantially increases our knowledge of Repton’s life and work and further establishes his role in the development of the English landscape.
Access to many new primary sources—including account books, drawings and notes—have allowed researchers to develop a more detailed picture of Repton’s theories of garden design and to identify some previously unknown sites.
Repton was born in 1752 and his designs bridged the 18th-century landscapes of Capability Brown and the Gardenesque movement of the early Victorian era. His famous Red Books, featuring exquisite water-colours, were effective marketing tools and his work included high-profile designs for estates such as Tatton Park and Woburn Abbey.
‘Repton has long been in the shadow of Capability Brown, but has every reason to be in the limelight,’ notes Linden Groves of The Gardens Trust.
Many of these new findings and 24 Red Books—the largest collection seen in one place in a quarter of a century—are included in the ‘Repton Revealed’ exhibition at the Garden Museum until February 3, 2019 (020– 7401 8865; www.gardenmuseum.org. uk). HK