Know Before You Go
The Rococo Garden is situated on the B4073, 1/2 mile outside the village of Painswick. The nearest station is Stroud. There is a regular bus (No 46) from Cheltenham and Stroud.
Painswick, England
Painswick Rococo Garden
Asthmatic Charles Hyett's son built a fantastical garden for his father to convalesce in, alas it was too late.
Situated outside the beautiful Cotswold town of Painswick, and famous for its snowdrop display, the Rococo Garden is a fascinating step back to a flamboyant and sensual period of English Garden Design, when gardens were almost theatrical sets used as a backdrop to decadent garden parties.
One thing they were not great for is flower gardens, any plantings included being just light decoration around the central mini-landscape theme. This gem of a garden, which was originally laid out in the early 18th century, is set in a hidden Cotswold valley with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.
Painswick House was built in the mid 1730s. Its owner, the asthma-suffering Charles Hyett came to Painswick to escape the smog of Gloucester, and named his new house ‘Buenos Ayres’. Sadly this move was not enough and he died soon after the House was completed. It was his son, Benjamin, who created the fanciful garden in a hidden valley behind the House.
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