.png)
NORTHERN ENGLAND
John Aislabie inherited the estate in 1693 and began landscaping the garden in 1718. In 1742 the ancient Abbey was incorporated into the scheme thus creating a picturesque style of natural English landscape garden design. The 18th century grotto tunnel and belvedere overlook the water garden.
20th Century Grotto Theme Park (1990) in Wensleydale. Designer - Malcolm Tempest.
Cheshire.
In the lobby of their private church the Duke and Duchess of Westminster commissioned the Shell Artist, Blott Kerr- Wilson to design and decorate a shell feature within a wall niche, 2000. This towering edifice uses a wide variety of exotic shells in intricate patterns that surround an artificial water feature.
An early Tudor House in Chesire which became a Georgian Manor (1757). Still owned by the Legh family. The Shell House was built in 1758. Sited in the wilderness area beside the T'ing House, Rat House and Hermitage. Shell interior restored in 2009 by Blott Kerr-Wilson.
Yorkshire.
The Compton Family have lived here since 1748. Owner Lucinda worked closely with Linda Fenwick to design the shell patterns in the garden pavilions (completed in 2017). They were influenced by the Robert Adam plaster motifs within the main house.
Linda Fenwick is a professional shell artist who created a shell house retreat 2010 in the grounds of the family home at Terrington. Influenced by the 18th century she uses classical symmetry in her shell patterns. Native and exotic are combined into intricate motifs. She has also completed shell pavilions at Newby Hall and Skipworth Rectory, Yorkshire.
The Atlas Fountain (1853), Grade 1 listed. Designed by William Nesfield and sculpted in Portland stone by John Thomas.
The tazza, pedestals, shells and basin were made by local craftsmen. A large globe of bronze sits on the shoulders of Atlas.
Four Tritons blow water through shells. Other jets fill the lower scallop shell basins.
The Forbes - Adams commissioned Linda Fenwick to decorate the garden loggia (2012).