Stourton - Stourhead

At Stourhead (26mi/42km west of Salisbury) one can admire one of the finest English landscaped gardens of the 18th C, which, except for the rhododendrons and magnolias planted in the 19th C, has remained unchanged since the time of its inception. The unique design of the garden includes an artificial lake with caves and landing stages. Surrounding the lake there are hills planted with trees, on which are to be found small classical temples and even the 14th C Gothic market cross which once stood in Bristol.

A walk through the garden makes the visitor aware of an extremely effective and harmonious connection between "man made" scenery and open countryside. The park and the stately Palladian mansion were designed in 1721-22 by Colin Campbell for the London banking family of Hoare. Thomas Chippendale provided elegant period furniture for the library, while the painting gallery is adorned with works by Canaletto, Raphael, Nicolas Poussin and Angelika Kaufmann. King Alfred's Tower, which was erected to commemorate the Saxon king, towers over the surrounding parkland and affords a fine panoramic view.