Journal Article

NEW LIGHT ON THOMAS ARCHER AS GARDEN-MAKER

LAWRENCE, HELEN

2010

Overview

Thomas Archer (c.1668–1743) is now given appropriate recognition as a key architect of the the English Baroque after years in the shadow of Christopher Wren, John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. As he was responsible for some of the most architecturally eccentric country houses in England, this accolade of Archer is long overdue. However, despite having been known to have designed several of the country's most important garden buildings, there has been no detailed attempt to analyse such structures within their corresponding landscapes, nor to consider his wider involvement in garden design. This paper explores Archer's involvement at several estates, considering his patrons, the political climate of the time and newly discovered details of his travels abroad. These findings show that he was conducting the same Grand Tour as his noble patrons, and provide revealing insights into his knowledge of Williamite gardens. This evidence suggests that he was a capable aesthete and speculates that he was a crucial and overlooked player in this period of landscape design.

• Publisher: Garden History Society
• Subject: Gardening / Gardens / Historic gardens / Home gardens / Houses / Landscape architecture / Landscaping / Religious buildings / Residential buildings / Wood buildings