Lake at Staunton Country Park, Havant, United Kingdom
One of my favourite country parks in Hampshire is the Staunton Country Park. Staunton Country Park is one of the most historic parks in Hampshire. Estate owner George Staunton’s experiences in China influenced the architectural style of the park. The above image shows the artificial lake with a Regency-style landscape for contrast with its former glory during the 19th century below. Although most of the former buildings are not present today, the lake still offers elegant and calm imagery. Staunton Country Park is a fantastic place for a family to visit at weekends.↳
# Sir George Staunton, 2nd Baronet
Sir Staunton bought the Leigh Estate in Havant in 1820 and made extensive expansions. His earlier experiences in China helped to shape the designs. When he was 12 years old, Sir Staunton went on a trip to China with his father as a part of the Macartney Embassy. Young Staunton learnt the Chinese language during the trip (engaged in a fluent conversation with Emperor Qianlong).
Beacon
In 1830, Sir Staunton built the Beacon as a place to reflect after a long day. He took inspiration from Greek temples to recycle the leftover materials from the Purbrook House. Some joke about the Beacon as a similar location to where a monarch would fly his flags. The Beacon was a typical example of a 19th-century gardening and landscaping masterpiece. Its positioning aims to allow Sir Staunton to gain a view of the surrounding hills.
Chinese Bridge
Sir Staunton applied his experiences in China and inspired him to use a natural touch to the garden instead of the traditional geometric approach to laying out a garden. The bridge was few of the remaining items in the park as the country park fell into disrepair during the 20th century. A recent restoration project allowed the park to reopen again to the public.