How We Built Britain

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The tour starts at the top garden walking from the house travelling into darker, wooded areas with a deeper shade of green. Almost in to a tunnel, passing through the gates you can almost get a glimpse of the Sun Temple, you can see the light ahead which makes you almost want to walk a but quicker to see what is at the end.

Then in front of you, The Temple of Apollo or Sun Temple, the canapé has lightened the and the shade of green is lighter, you can see the misty haze of tree lines in the distance.

The Terrace

This is one of the important views as you come out of the top garden. The path opens up in to a beautiful view of the English landscape. But we can also see the view of the church down to the village, The Temple of Apollo in the distance and a beautiful framed view.

All these scenes were planned and thought about in the original planting and the building of the Apollo temple back in the 18th Century.

Pantheon

A 3D image with a foreground of laurel that was so important in the 18th Century. The lake, then the bank, the island and Pantheon and the sky line behind it. It's almost like looking at an 18th Century painting.

Diana's Basin

We are between Diana’s Basin and Lily Lake. Over Lily Lake and into the distance there's a soft transition, from a well managed landscape, into a none managed landscape.

Apollo

As you continue to walk you can see Apollo, on its mound of green in all its beauty but it’s still very far away. There's a glimpse to draw you in and keep you going but we really do want to see it. The background view is tight. With a well planned conifer tree to frame it.

To the Grotto

Turn right and suddenly we are plunged in to darkness and a huge drop in temperature. A completely covered area. Through an arch way leading to the Grotto, but still not a clear view to the Grotto, in order to tease us we only steal glimpses and its so peaceful.

The stones of the Grotto were bought in from the hills around Bristol from under the sea so you can see, fossils if you look closely.

Now everything is dark you have to slow down as you don't know where your feet are. You can hear water, which was so important in the 18th Century, then through 4 arches, The River God, lit up by the sky light.

 The River Nymph

You can also see The River Nymph, and an Alexander Pope quote at her feet. Now you are at lake level, it's like you should almost have wet feet. But you can't see anything whilst in The Grotto as that would spoil the whole experience.

Coming out of The Grotto climbing above water level. The most complex view so far, the Palladium Bridge, Bristol Cross, the village and the Temple of Flora.

Vice or Virtue

Keep walking and you're in another darken area. Past a formation of rocks made from the same rock as the Grotto and a choice of Vice or Virtue. Its up to you, do we go to the pub or see the amazing view?

If you choose the view you'll climb stone steps, up and up until suddenly the Sun Temple. Out from beneath a canopy of beech.

The view opens up first to Apollo, then the lake, the tree tops and the islands. It's fantastic. The full glory is on show for every one. But it's strange, as you can't see any paths or people you feel completely alone.

Bristol Cross

In the open air again. And the Medieval Bristol Cross. A relic that was falling to bits, and deemed wrong for Bristol at the time so it was given to Stourhead as a gift.

Now you are right by water side, for first time, a huge expanse of water and garden. You're right by the level of water and truly feel part of the garden. All the elements are visible now the Cross, forna, the Temples, Stourhead in all its glory.