18th Century Crystal Grotto

Painshill Park was created between 1738 and 1773 by the Honourable Charles Hamilton and is one of the most important 18th century landscapes in Europe.

A painter, plantsman and brilliantly gifted, imaginative designer, he dedicated his creative genius to the layout and composition of a landscape garden which was unique in Europe and still remains so.

In May 2006, Painshill was awarded full collection status for the John Bartram Heritage Collection, the first National Plant Collection of its type ever awarded and now used as a standard to judge other similar heritage collections finished between 1765 and 1770.

The 18th Century Crystal Grotto was finished between 1765 and 1770. It is considered to be the most spectacular and famous feature in Hamilton’s masterpiece and the finest of its type ever built.

Painshill_Park_grotto
Painshill Park grotto
Copyright: Image courtesy of Brian Wood