Harold Peto
Encyclopedia
Harold Ainsworth Peto was a British landscape architect
and garden design
er, who worked in Britain and in Provence
, France.
in Lowestoft, Suffolk.
In 1876 he went into partnership with Ernest George
and designed houses in Kensington
and Chelsea
but was forced to leave London
due to ill health.
In 1899 Harold purchased and moved to Iford Manor
in Wiltshire, having visited it that year with his friend Henry Avray Tipping
. Harold re-designed and expanded the garden, trying out new ideas, and housing his collection of artifacts collected during his many travels around the world. The garden at Iford illustrates particularly his Arts and crafts
approach to architecture and garden design.
A fine example of Peto's garden architecture can be seen at West Dean College
where his 300 feet (91.4 m) pergola
is a highlight of the gardens. Peto and his partner Ernest George
also directed an extension of West Dean House for William James, father of poet Edward James
who was noted for patronage if the Surrealist art movement. Peto and George created the Oak Room, the old dining room and the staircase, all of which can still be seen within West Dean College.
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
and garden design
Garden design
Garden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expertise...
er, who worked in Britain and in Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, France.
Biography
Peto was the son of Sir Samuel Peto, 1st Baronet, of Somerleyton HallSomerleyton Hall
Somerleyton Hall is a country house in the village of Somerleyton near Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. It has a notable garden.-History:In 1240, a manor house was built on the site of Somerleyton Hall by Sir Peter Fitzosbert whose daughter married into the Jernegan family. The male line of the...
in Lowestoft, Suffolk.
In 1876 he went into partnership with Ernest George
Ernest George
Sir Ernest George RA was an English architect, landscape and architectural watercolour painter, and etcher.-Life and work:...
and designed houses in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
and Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
but was forced to leave London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
due to ill health.
In 1899 Harold purchased and moved to Iford Manor
Iford Manor
Iford Manor in Wiltshire sits on the steep slopes of the Frome valley, which itself has been occupied since Roman times. The house is mediaeval in origin, the classical façade having been added in the 18th century when the hanging woodlands above the garden were planted.-History and...
in Wiltshire, having visited it that year with his friend Henry Avray Tipping
Henry Avray Tipping
Henry Avray Tipping was a French-born British writer on country houses and gardens, and a garden designer.He was born in the Château de Ville-d'Avray near Versailles, while his parents were living in France before moving into Brasted Place in Kent, where he grew up...
. Harold re-designed and expanded the garden, trying out new ideas, and housing his collection of artifacts collected during his many travels around the world. The garden at Iford illustrates particularly his Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" and "the rest"...
approach to architecture and garden design.
A fine example of Peto's garden architecture can be seen at West Dean College
West Dean College
West Dean College is situated in the West Dean Estate, of West Dean near Chichester. The Estate was formerly the home of the poet and patron of the arts, Edward James. He was an avid admirer of the Surrealist movement, and formed one of the largest collections of their works during his lifetime...
where his 300 feet (91.4 m) pergola
Pergola
A pergola, arbor or arbour is a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are trained...
is a highlight of the gardens. Peto and his partner Ernest George
Ernest George
Sir Ernest George RA was an English architect, landscape and architectural watercolour painter, and etcher.-Life and work:...
also directed an extension of West Dean House for William James, father of poet Edward James
Edward James
Edward William Frank James was a British poet known for his patronage of the surrealist art movement.-Early life and marriage:...
who was noted for patronage if the Surrealist art movement. Peto and George created the Oak Room, the old dining room and the staircase, all of which can still be seen within West Dean College.
See also
- IlnacullinIlnacullinIlnacullin, or sometimes Illaunacullin known locally as Garnish Island , is a very tranquil yet popular tourist attraction in Ireland, located in the small harbour of Glengarriff, County Cork which forms part of Bantry Bay...
, County CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... - Historic Cork GardensHistoric Cork Gardens-Annes Grove Gardens:Started by Richard Grove Annesley, in the grounds of a house near Fermoy dating from the early eighteenth century. Home to many Himalayan rhododendrons, some from seeds collected by Captain Frank Kingdon-Ward in Burma and Tibet in 1924...
- West Dean, West SussexWest Dean, West SussexWest Dean is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located north of Chichester on the A286 road just west of Singleton. The parish includes the hamlets of Binderton and Chilgrove....
Further reading
- R. Whalley, The Great Edwardian Gardens of Harold Peto From The Archives Of Country Life (2007)