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Hanbury Hall is the archetypical squire's house of the William and Mary period. It was built c.1701 for a wealthy lawyer, Thomas Vernon. It is a handsome brick house with stone dressings. Around 1700 Vernon engaged George London to lay out a formal garden on the south side of the house, with walled enclosures, paired gazebos, parterres divided by straight paths, and compartments of box and yew in the 'Dutch-style' which prevailed during the reign of William and Mary. With his partner, Henry Wise, London was the leading garden designer of the period, and from their nurseries at Brompton, Wise supervised the Royal gardens, including Hampton Court, and Kensington Palace, while London travelled all over the country.

'The National Trust' has painstakingly re-created the London designs at Hanbury after archaeological investigations in 1992-3 uncovered many of the remains of the formal garden, including the foundations of the 'green houses' and 'upper pavillions'.

A detached Long Gallery is found to the rear of the main house, and an elegant mid-18th century Orangery stands on the far-side of 'The Wilderness'.

[Jonathan Myles-Lea's painting was commissioned to celebrate the recreation of the gardens designed by George London. The property is owned by The National Trust and is open to visitors.]

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