
Humphry Repton was the successor to ‘Capability’ Brown as Britain’s pre-eminent landscape gardener. He was renowned for inventing the Red Book. This was an artwork for prospective clients that combined hand-written design proposals with theatrical before-and-after watercolour illustrations. Nine were produced for Yorkshire clients. The talk will include Repton’s commission from Earl Fitzwilliam at Wentworth Woodhouse (1791-1794), which introduced him to patronage in Yorkshire. It will then focus on those adjacent to Leeds – for the new aristocrats at Harewood (1800), the industrialist, Benjamin Gott, at Armley House (1810) and the banker, John Blayds II at Oulton Hall (1810).
Dr Patrick Eyres is co-author, with Karen Lynch, of On The Spot: The Yorkshire Red Books of Humphry Repton, Landscape Gardener (2018).
This talk is part of the Heritage Open Days Festival 2025
Free but booking essential.
Leeds Central Library
Municipal Buildings
Calverley Street
Leeds
LS1 3AB
United Kingdom