Water Features at Stately Homes and Castles in the UK
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is set in the stunning village of Bakewell in the Derbyshire countryside. The stunning Emperor fountain was installed by the 1st Duke and was the highest in this country. It is on record as having reached the height of 300ft! It is powered by the pressure of water dropping 122m through a 40cm iron pipe. In 2014 2 new nozzles were made for the fountain with the idea being that the second nozzle is marginally narrower than the first which creates a taller column of water therefore ensuring a flow of water reaching 200ft.
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a stunning 18th century residence in the heart of North Yorkshire. Complete with magnificent architecture, idyllic gardens with outstanding views and inspiring family stories this makes the perfect place to enjoy a summers day. Ornamental water features are used to create dramatic effect in the gardens at Castle Howard. There are a number of waterways which now dominate the grounds and create a real focal point. The most recognisable piece of sculpture at Castle Howard is the Atlas Fountain. The fountain was commissioned in 1850 and has since undergone restorative work in 2010.
Alnwick Castle
One of Britain’s most iconic castles and has recently been featured as a new location in popular TV show Downton Abbey. There has been a castle recorded on this site for 1000 years and for the last 700 years, Alnwick Castle has been home to the Percy family. It remains one of the largest inhabited castles in the UK. There are stunning gardens surrounding the castle including the Secret Garden, Treehouse Closure and a Jurassic Garden. The Ornamental Garden is a tranquil area through the Venetian gates at the top of the Grand Cascade. At the heart of the garden lies a bubbling pool that spills into the rills that run throughout the Garden and into two smaller secret gardensBlenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Set in Oxfordshire, Blenheim Palace was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Today it is the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and is a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture and is surrounded by 2000 acres of landscaped gardens which includes the Marlborough Maze – the second largest symbolic hedge maze in the world! The Water Terraces at Blenheim were constructed between 1925 and 1930 and are a massive feat of planning and engineering. On the lowest terrace stands the scale model made by Bernini for his famous fountain in the Piazza Navona in Rome.
Harewood House
Harewood House in Leeds is home to the Earl of Harewood, cousin to the Queen. The estate was bought in 1738 and the house was completed in 1771. The gardens are extensive and comprise of formal gardens, a Bhutanese Stupa, a stunning waterfall and grand Himalayan garden. The Himalayan garden at Harewood is a miniature replica of the extraordinary area in central Asia. With paths through a gorge and a bridge across the beck, there is an array of plants flowers and a great diversity of flora.
