About
Charles Hamilton, designer of Painshill, was a brilliantly gifted and imaginative designer, with the eye of an artist. He dedicated his creative genius to the layout and composition of a landscape park and living work of art.
Throughout Painshill, trees, shrubs and flowers create different moods. A mysterious forest hides fairy tale surprises, like the Gothic Tower, while open wildflower meadows are cheerful spots in which to picnic in. The Amphitheatre is created from tiers of evergreen shrubs and the trees on Fir Walk frame the view for the visitor.
The woodlands of Painshill are home to rich spring flower displays and many amazing trees. The Great Cedar, framed in the arch of the Gothic Temple, is the largest multi-stemmed Cedar in Europe and the ancient oak on the lake side is over 450 years old.
The area around the Chinese Bridge is home to the John Bartram Collection of American Trees and Shrubs which hold plant heritage status and produce incredible autumn colour.
Painshill also has a Kitchen Garden and Walled Garden by the river side.
History and Restoration
Restoring Painshill is not just about rebuilding the follies. Since it’s beginning 40 years ago Painshill Park Trust has cleared vast amounts of overgrown areas and replanted the 18th century designs including Hamilton’s curved beds, his Amphitheatre, Fir Walk and others. The trust undertakes research into what plants would have been used and where they would have been placed.