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History and Heritage
History
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Lancelot "Capability" Brown (1716 – 1783)
After working at Stowe, he became master gardener at Hampton Court in 1764. He was then employed by George III to remodel the grounds of Richmond Lodge. Capability Brown is renowned for his significant impact on what was regarded as the new fashion in terms of the style of gardens. Both Merlin’s Cave and Kent’s Hermitage were removed at Kew by him and in their place, Capability remodelled the land into a "natural" landscape. He used the site of the present Rhododendron Dell as an opportunity to excavate a miniature valley.
There are a couple of portraits of Capability Brown in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery.