Restoration of this 18th-century landscape garden, the creation of the Duke of Newcastle and once praised as ‘the noblest of any in Europe’, began in 1975 after twenty years of neglect had turned the entire site into an impenetrable evergreen jungle. Today, the contributions of a succession of the 18th-century’s greatest gardeners are visible, encapsulating the early evolution of the English landscape movement. A 3-acre grass amphitheatre – Claremont’s masterpiece – was designed by Charles Bridgeman , the foremost landscape gardener of the time. In the early 1730s, the celebrated gardener William Kent implemented natural contours to create scenes evocative of landscape painting.
Set within the heart of Surrey, Claremont is an eighteenth century landscape garden beloved of royalty. The unique turf amphitheatre, serpentine lake and Belvedere Tower have inspired princesses and artists alike, while the fête champêtre music and firework extravaganzas became local legends.
