Thomas Mawson

Unless your hobby is exquisite garden design it is likely you won’t have heard of Thomas Hayton Mawson, however you may well have heard of many of the wonderful gardens he designed during his illustrious career.

Early in his working life, Thomas moved to Windermere to set up a nursery business following a keen interest in gardening whilst growing up. Lakeland Nurseries was set up with his two brother and this is where Thomas developed his enormous skill for garden design.

Thomas Hayton Mawson designed some of the most celebrated gardens in the Lake District and Cumbria. He also designed the ‘Palace of Peace’ gardens at the Hague in 1908 and had a hand in the Smokey Mountains National Park in America. As well as garden design he was a published author. In 1901, he wrote two comprehensive works called ‘The Art and Craft of Garden Making’ which is now regarded as the foundation of modern landscape gardening.

Graythwaite Hall is situated near the beautiful Lakeland Village of Hawkshead boasts a Mawson designed garden which is still open to the public in the summer months. The grand grade II listed building is the ancestral home of the Sandys family. Famously Edwin Sandys became the Arch Bishop of York in the 16th Century and helped found the Hawkshead Grammar School, which was attended by William Wordsworth.

Another example of Mawson’s design work is the grounds at The Langdale Chase hotel which is situated on the shores of Windermere.

Overlooking the lake and the Western Fells, Langdale Chase has a stunning location next to the lake and surrounded by 6 acres of Mawson designed grounds dating back to 1894.

Other notable Mawson examples in Cumbria include Brockhole in Windermere which is now a visitor’s centre specialising in Water sports, arts and craft and fine dining.

Holker Hall (pictured at the top of the page) in South Cumbria maintain their gardens meticulously and are a joy to visit at any time of year.

Mawson also designed the formal garden at Rydal Hall in 1909. Today the wonderful gardens are still available to enjoy for guests staying at the hall which is listed and dates back to 1650.

If you are looking for a haven of tranquillity in the middle of a bustling town, the Victorian park in Barrow was designed by Mawson in 1908. The park has continued to expand over the years and alongside the gardens is now home to a miniature railway, boating lake, glasshouses and a bandstand. The park is free to enter and is open all year round.