Thomas White (c. 1736-1811): Redesigning the Northern British Landscape [Paperback]

This volume aims to restore the reputation of Thomas White, who in his time was as well respected as his fellow landscape designers Lancelot 'Capability' Brown and Humphry Repton. By the end of his career, he had produced designs for at least 32 sites across northern England and over 60 in Scotland. These include nationally important designed landscapes in Yorkshire such as Harewood House, Sledmere Hall, Burton Constable Hall, Newby Hall, Mulgrave Castle as well as Raby Castle in Durham, Belle Isle in Cumbria and Brocklesby Hall in Lincolnshire. He has a vital role in the story of how northern English designed landscapes evolved in the 18th century.

The book focuses on White's known commissions in England and sheds further light on the work of other designers such as Brown and Repton, who worked on many of the same sites. White set up as an independent designer in 1765, having worked for Brown from 1759, and his style developed over the next thirty years. Never merely a 'follower of Brown', as he is often erroneously described, his designs for plantations in particular were much admired and influenced the later, more informal styles of the picturesque movement.

The improvement plans he produced for his clients demonstrate his surveying and artistic skills. These plans were working documents but at the same time works of art in their own right. Over 60 of his beautifully-executed coloured plans survive, which is a testament to the value his clients placed on them. This book makes available for the first time over 90% of the known plans and surveys by White for England. Also included are plans by White's contemporaries, together with later maps, estate surveys and contemporary illustrations to understand which parts of improvement plans were implemented.

11.1 Armley

11.2 Belle Isle  

11.3 Blyborough  

11.4 Brocklesby

11.5 Burton Constable

11.6 Busby

11.7 Campsall

11.8 Carlton

11.9 Colwick

11.10 Copgrove

11.11 Fryston

11.12 Goldsborough

11.13 Grimston Garth

11.14 Grove

11.15 Harewood

11.16 Hawksworth

11.17 Holme  

11.18 Houghton

11.19 Kirkleatham

11.20 Lumley

11.21 Mulgrave

11.22 Newby

11.23 Norton

11.24 Owston

11.25 Raby

11.26 Scarisbrick

11.27 Sedbury

11.28 Skelton Castle

11.29 Sledmere

11.30 Welton  

11.31 Workington

11.32 Others – Kilnwick and Stapleton

"This is an introduction to White’s work built on exhaustive research. ... there is much insight here on White and on the way in which landscape designers were commissioned and operated that is rare in writing on this period. It is, however, in the two chapters of the final section that this book becomes of greatest value to anyone interested in landscape design in Britain from late Brown to mid-Repton. The detail here can be read in conjunction with references to a site earlier in the book which helps clarify the point being made. The detailed research, and the involvement of White or the attitude of another landscaper to White’s work, will be invaluable for anyone interested in any of the landscapes that are included in this book. Despite his successful and prolific career White has not been the primary subject of attention until now. In this book Turnbull and Wickham have filled the gap and provided researchers with a thorough survey of his work and career."
Stephen Radley
Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Lands (06/07/2022)

"Over 60 of his beautifully executed coloured plans survive, which is a testament to the value his clients placed on them. This book makes available for the first time over 90% of the known plans and surveys by White for England. "

Yorkshire Gardens Trust (01/11/2021)