Molesey in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
The Great Fountain Garden
The Great Fountain Garden was a magnificent baroque formal garden, created by Daniel Marot for William III (r 1689-1702) and Mary II (r 1689-1694) to frame Henry VIII’s hunting park.
Thirteen fountains
The French architect Daniel Marot designed 13 fountains set in intricate ‘broderie’ (embroidery) beds of flowers, grass and coloured gravels.
The fountains never worked well and all but one were swept away after Mary’s sister, Anne became Queen in 1702. She disliked the garden’s expense and its over-elaborate design. She also hated the smell of box hedginh and had it uprooted and replaced with closely clipped yew trees and gravel paths.
‘… the King also directed the laying of the pipes for the fountain and… increased the number to them after the first design.’ Daniel Defoe, A Tour Thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain, 1724
Yew trees grow … and grow …
Royalty abandoned living at the palace in 1760 and George III’s Chief Gardener, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown decided to stop clipping the topiary – such formal gardens were out of fashion and it also saved his own money. The stunted yews from Queen Anne’s garden began to grow and grow.
After the First World War gardeners returned to clipping these magnificent trees, turning them into giant toadstool shapes. Our gardeners continue to clip these 300-year-old trees every summer.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry.
Location. 51° 24.182′ N, 0° 20.157′ W. Marker is in Molesey, England, in Greater London. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Hampton Court Bridge and Hampton Court Road when traveling north. Located in Hampton Court Palace. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Molesey, England KT8 9AS, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Broad Walk (within shouting distance of this marker); The Privy Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Golden Jubilee Fountain (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Home Park and the Long Water (about 180 meters away); Barge Walk (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Site of the Toy Inn (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Molesey Riverbank (approx. half a kilometer away); The Family Coat of Arms of Thomas Newland Allen (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Molesey.
Also see . . .
1. Hampton Court Palace. (Submitted on June 12, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Hampton Court Palace on Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 12, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 12, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.