The Leasowes

The Leasowes is a 57 -hectare Park lying to the east of Halesowen, not far from Junction 3 of the M5 motorway. It is a mixture of woodland, grassland, streams and lakes designed and laid out by the poet William Shenstone between 1743 and 1763. The Leasowes is ranked amongst such landscapes as Blenheim and Stow, being listed as Grade I on the English Heritage 'Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England'.

 

Shenstone's family moved to The Leasowes from nearby Lapal in the early 18th century. Shortly afterwards his father, Thomas, married Ann Pen, of Harborough Hall near Kidderminster. William Shenstone was born at The Leasowes on 5th November 1714.

 

Shenstone's early education was under a school-dame in Halesowen, who he later immortalised in his poem 'The School Mistress'. Subsequently, he attended Halesowen Grammar School before going to academy in Solihull and to Pembroke College in Oxford in 1732.

 

Thomas Shenstone dies in 1724 leaving William and his younger brother Joseph under the care of their mother. She continued to manage the farm until her death in 1732. The guardianship of the lands passed to a John Spencer and later to Thomas Dolman (Shenstone's uncle), before Shenstone took over the estate in the early 1740s.

 

Shenstone admitted that he was a poor farmer and only really every wanted to write poetry. His poems were only occasionally published until 1755 when Robery Dodsley included some of his work in a book of modern poems. The book was a best seller and Shenstone's poems became very popular. He was preparing his collected works for publications when he died of a fever on 11th February 1763 and was buried in Halesowen churchyard. Shenstone did not marry and his estate passed to John Hodgetts, a distant relative.

 

The significance of The Leasowes is that it marked a fundamental change in garden design. Gardens elsewhere in Britain were being laid our in formal designs with rigid lines of trees and regularly shaped flower beds and pools. Shenstone himself began work at The Leasowes in such a formal manner, but soon abandoned this approach for a style that respected and utilised the natural landscape. He was not a wealthy man; indeed, if Shenstone had the means he would have probably continued with his formal designs. He worked in an unplanned fashion over the estate, forced to economise and use his imagination.

 

Shenstone transformed parts of the his property into a 'ferme ornee' - an ornamental farm. He introduced cascades and pools into natural waterways, constructed temples, ruins and seats to ornament the landscape, dedicated urns to the memory of friends and relatives, and planted trees and shrubs to highlight views both within the park and more especially of the surrounding countryside.

 

The series of disparate works developed into a themes walk. Although The Leasowes was famous during Shenstone's life, its reputation increased after his death due largely to the publication of 'A Description of The Leasowes' by Rovery Dodsley in 1765. This described the 'Circuit' path which led visitors through the varied topography of the landscape. Henceforth, visitors toured The Leasowes with a copy of Dodsleys 'Description' in their hands, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Wesley.

 

In the years since, The Leasowes' fortunes have been waxed and waned. The House itself was rebuilt in 1778 and several other buildings, including the Ruined Priory, survived until the 1960s. Sections of the Circuit Walk remain, but many of Shentone's trees have gone. The most dramatic change to the landscape, however, was the construction of the Dudley No 2 Canal, opened in 1797, which reduced the extent of Priory Pool and blocked some of the views across Halesowen.

 

John Hodgetts sold The Leasowes in 1765 and, after server further changes in ownership it was purchased in 1934 by Halesowen Council, which itself became absorbed as part of Dudley Council in 1974.

 

The Visitor Centre/Wardens Base is open most days of the year, normally from 10.00am to 4.00pm subject to warden's duties. The parkland is open at all times. The Leasowes Wardens may be contacted on 01384 814642.

 

Refreshments are available from the Gardeners rest Café. Open weekdays 10.00am to 3.00pm. Please telephone 0121 602 4903 for further details

 

Bedding plants and shrubs may be purchased from the Stourbridge Horticultural Unit. Please telephone 0121 602 4900 for further details.