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Hamilton’s Vision

Painshill 18th century landscape garden was created between 1738 and 1773, by the Hon. Charles Hamilton.

Born in Dublin in 1704, Hamilton, the ninth son and 14th child of the Sixth Earl of Abercorn, embarked on two Grand Tours across Europe before acquiring the land at Painshill. With ancient artefacts in his luggage and Italian romance and natural beauty in his head – along with exotic plants seen on his tours – his vision was to create ‘living paintings’ in a new style of magical garden.

Inspired by Renaissance art and his Grand Tours, Hamilton went on to create a sequence of breathtaking and surprising vistas at Painshill. The landscapes form living works of art into which Hamilton placed follies for dramatic effect.

Hon. Charles Hamilton

A painter, plantsman and brilliantly imaginative designer, the Hon. Charles Hamilton, the ninth son and fourteenth child of the Earl of Abercorn was the creator of Painshill’s magnificent landscape.

The Grand Tour

Since the time of Elizabeth I, diplomats, courtiers and wealthy nobles had travelled to Europe to learn about and experience different cultures. A symbol of wealth and status, so called activities were called Grand Tours.

Hamilton's Grand Tour

Charles Hamilton went on two Grand Tours , the first in the Jubilee Year of 1725 until 1727 and then again in 1732, when he joined his companion Henry Fox in Rome.

Find out more about Hamilton’s Grand Tours.

Influence on Painshill

Hamilton acquired the land at Painshill, Cobham in 1738. Combining his passion for plants and his artistic vision, Hamilton infused his memories, thoughts and ideas of Europe and his Grand Tours, creating the pleasure grounds at Painshill.