Rus in urbe: greening the English town, 1660-1760

This thesis looks at the ideas behind the weaving of greenery into the urban fabric, expressed in the form of parks, gardens and walks. It underlines just how important urban attitudes are and the urban environment has been in shaping our experience and perceptions of the natural world. In turn, the thesis traces the influence of these perceptions on the topographical and cultural landscape of the town. Representations of urban parks, gardens and walks reflect and respond to the intimacy of nature and the town meeting face to face, trading off the different images and associations that these environments summon. This research draws the two fields of urban history and garden/landscape history together, allowing for a more holistic approach that opens up ground for the ways in which the town and the wider landscape were mutually interactive and influential. Furthermore, this thesis backdates the usual recognition of urban greening as a nineteenth and twentieth century phenomenon in tracing its significance and extent in the period 1660-1760. These sites were not just a feature of the capital, illustrated by focusing on Bath, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, and Shrewsbury as case study towns as well as St James's Park and Vauxhall Gardens in London. Following an introductory chapter situating the subject within contemporary issues and research, the thesis proceeds with chapters on the representation of nature in the town; the design and lay-out of town parks, gardens and walks; the bodies responsible for this layout and ordering; the considered importance of urban greening with regards the physical and moral welfare of the town and its residents/visitors; the contesting of access to urban parks and gardens; and gender, sexuality and nature in the town, concluding with an epilogue expanding on the central theme of boundaries within this thesis.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Williams, Laura

• D Hanes (Cyffredinol)
• D204 Hanes Modern
• DA Prydain Fawr
• S Amaethyddiaeth (Cyffredinol)

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:2503