Ornamental Lakes: Their Origins and Evolution in English Landscapes

Ornamental Lakes traces the history of lakes in England, from their appearance in the early eighteenth century, through their development in the 1750s, and finally to their decline in the nineteenth century. Aside from the natural lakes in the Lake District, the bodies of water we see in England today are man-made, primarily intended to ornament the landscapes of the upper classes.

Through detailed research, author Wendy Bishop argues that, contrary to accepted thinking, the development of ...