Gardens of Castle Howard

The estate of Castle Howard was described by John Leland in 1540 as having a park four miles around, with much young woodland. At the end of the 17th century, Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle commissioned a scheme from George London to redesign the grounds, which would have created canals, avenus and circular lawns. London's scheme was rejected, and instead in 1699 John Vanbrugh was commissioned to create a new house and gardens. Vanbrugh's designs were still being implemented at his death in 1726, and the work may have been finished off by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Later in the 18th century, the Great Lake and South Lake were created. The South Parterre was remodelled in 1850 by William…

The estate covers 2,400 hectares, including the gardens, parkland and surrounding agricultural land. The main house is on a high site, close to the centre of the estate. To its north is a large lawn, leading down to the Great Lake, on which are a boathouse and modern playground area. To its west is the Boar Garden, and beyond that The Stables. To its south is the Broad Walk, running east–west. Beyond the path, southwest of the house is the Walled Garden, with the Irish Yew Garden to its south. South of the house is the South Parterre, with the former Wilderness to its south – a symmetrical hedge maze, designed by Vanbrugh but later destroyed – and to its south, The Pyramid. Southeast of the…