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 lakes led to the dissolution of formal landscapes rather than following changes in landscape design. Providing a comprehensive overview of lakes in England, including data on who made these lakes, how, and when, it additionally covers fishponds, water gardens, cascades and reservoirs. Richly illustrated and accompanied by case studies across the region, this book offers new insights in landscape history for students, researchers and those interested in how landscapes evolve.

1. Introduction 2. The Ancestors of Lakes 3. The Emergence of Lakes 4. The Making of Lakes 5. The Lake Makers 6. Why Lakes Emerged 7. Lakes in the Nineteenth Century 8. Conclusion

Wendy Bishop. After a career in teaching, including Malawian secondary schools, and teaching children with behavioural difficulties, she received a stern health warning and retrained, doing degrees in garden design and garden history. This was followed by a PhD on ornamental lakes at the University of East Anglia. She is now an independent researcher. Alongside lakes, her research interests include the history of reservoirs and their evolving uses and modes of construction.