Monument record MDO45694 - Pleasure Grounds at Larmer Tree, Farnham and Tollard Royal

Pleasure grounds created by Lieutenant General Pitt- Rivers for the enjoyment and education of the public. A small part is in Dorset. Work started on the grounds in 1880-81 and were opened to the public in 1885. Following Pitt-Rivers death in 1900 the grounds became less popular and fell into decay, some of the structures and buildings were demolished. During the early 1990s the gardens and some of the buildings were restored.

Pleasure grounds created during the 1880s by Lieutenant General Pitt- Rivers for the use by the local population. In 1880 the octagonal temple was built beside a small pool. Then six `quarters' or separate buildings in Indian style were constructed. These were designed for picnics, set around a central area with lawns, hedged with laurel. Surviving buildings include the Theatre (1895), the General's Room, an Indian Pavilion and the Lower Indian Room (c. 1880) Originally four pavilions were imported from North India for the Colonial Exhibition in London in 1880. They were then acquired by Pitt-Rivers and re-erected in the Larmer Tree grounds. Two collapsed during the second World War. <1>

Work started on the grounds in 1880-81 and were opened to the public in 1885. Following Pitt-Rivers death in 1900 the grounds became less popular and fell into decay, some of the structures and buildings were demolished. During the early 1990s the gardens and some of the buildings were restored. <2>

<1> English Heritage, 1987, Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest: Wiltshire (Monograph). SDO19505.

<2> English Heritage, 2005, Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest: Wiltshire (revised) (Monograph). SDO19506.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1061618 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 22 2023 11:49AM