Rousham, (also known as Rousham Park), Bicester, England

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

Sir Robert Dormer bought Rousham Manor in 1635, building a new manor house soon after. The earliest gardens included a formal one to the north and a walled garden with a dovecote to the east (extant 1998). In 1677 the formal garden contained five terraced walks, one below the other, leading down to the River Cherwell. By 1721 a 'new garden' was made along the river north-west of the house, laid out as a wilderness with ponds, straight walks and a temple or pavilion. A plan of around 1725, probably by Charles Bridgeman (died 1738), shows a complete reorganisation and extension of the garden, but it is not known how much of this was carried out (Victoria County History). Workmen were employed in the gardens between 1725 and 1734. In 1728 Alexander Pope thought the gardens 'the prettiest place for waterfalls, jets, ponds, inclosed with beautiful scenes of green and hanging wood, that I ever saw' (Willis 1979). William Kent (1685-1748) was employed by James Dormer between 1737 and 1741, enlarging and remodelling the house, park and pleasure grounds. He reused much of the extant garden structure, but softened the lines and introduced additional features and circuit walks using the countryside beyond to provide extensive picturesque views. The detailed planning and planting were carried out by the steward William White and the gardener John MacClary. The pleasure grounds were very influential during the 18th century, being commented upon by many visitors, including Horace Walpole who thought it his favourite William Kent garden (Batey 1982). Little further work was carried out on the gardens, leaving them largely untouched to the present (1998). The site remains in private ownership.