Time Team Special: Secrets of the Stately Garden | Classic Special (Full Episode) - 2007 Prior Park

FULL EPISODE | CLASSIC TIME TEAM SPECIAL
The team examine the expensive Enlightenment fad for landscape gardens, in particular, one designed by Capability Brown. To get a feel for naturalistic garden designs, Robinson travels to Prior Park near Bath, built by Ralph Allen and inspired by Alexander Pope, where a water cascade feature is being restored by the National Trust. At the Royal Society in London, Tony learns of the explosion of interest in the natural sciences at the time, an interest expressed in Greco-Roman inspired garden grottos and faux statues, temples and lakes. At Stowe House we see evidence of the vice/virtue dichotomy as portrayed in classical symbolism, and Tony travels to Rome and Hadrian's Villa to explore the comparisons further.
Original broadcast date: 27th August 2007.
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[@SirWhig-esq.]

R.I.P - Mick Aston, Robin Bush, Victor Ambrus, Ian Barclay [digger driver] and Beric Morley.

[@paular6759]

Never seen a digger driver to match Ian, for sure! He didn't get enough attention or credit on the show.

[@happygrandma5637]

@@paular6759 Actually, I believe there were 2 Ian's that were digger drivers. One was younger and also a field archeologist (you can see him in the trenche's) and one was in the later episodes & older. Both were great, and I agree they didn't get enough attention.

[@TerraViator101]

@@happygrandma5637 Well, the old Ian is unmatched in his skills. The man could flip a coin from the ground into the diggers bucket.

[@user-neo71665]

Ian wasn't just a driver, he was an operator. You can put any moron behind a wheel (sticks in this case) and in a few minutes they can drive equipment. It takes skill and experience to truly operate heavy machinery.

[@Awitsaduck]

Richard Morris? Wasn't he on the recent Templar episode?

[@Sosu217]

I can’t say how much joy Time Team has brought me over the years, just perfect.

[@seraphale]

Agreed. This is perfect.🤎

[@joshschneider9766]

Just as an informational bit, the lake has now been successfully restored to what it looked like when Allen died and flood proofed. They are currently in the replanting phase and other than occasionally closing small sections of paths for gardening purposes its completely open to public visitation.

[@seraphale]

Crying from the US.🤣 I want to see it!!

[@CHCLA6779]

I did not see this when it first aired - and I am so enjoying it!!! Laughed outloud when Sir Tony said his mother would have moved the family picnic if she'd known what the background represented. Love Time Team - old and new!

[@jonnawyatt]

He'll only ever be Tony to me.😊

[@judithburke1539]

😂😮😅!

[@CroneLife1]

Gods, I love Time Team so much. This show ... almost in tears at the end; such beautiful - and beautifully British - space.

[@MyBlueZed]

Not actually tears but I definitely moistened up. 😊❤️

[@jimloth6091]

I've been watching classic Time Team episodes and found this entirely by surprise tonight. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. I'll find my old trowel and volunteer to help dig!!!

[@joakimjohansson6863]

Like in the old days, TT at its best, Tony is a fantastic presenter!

[@LilieDubh]

Never a bad episode. Loved this look at the gorgeous gardens/parks of England.

[@CanChikMay]

Thank you Tony and Stewart..so well done..good story

[@alphabarbs]

Exceptional episode - maybe it's just me, but it feels really apt for our times.

[@dennisnicholson952]

That was absolutely an amazing journey through the wonderland of English country gardens.

[@549RR]

Another one I'd missed, even though I love garden history (and of course Time Team). I was always thrilled when Stewart would identify a trout pond, or when digging would reveal what everyone thought was potentially a building wall on geophys to be 'just a garden feature'.

[@nzlemming]

I directed Tom Stoppard's Arcadia some years ago, which delves a little into the idea of the stately garden, I wish I'd seen this before that 🙂

[@JayRob31145]

Absolutely stunning, inspiring, glorious, beautiful, informative. How lucky we are to today be the inheritors of such beauty. And to think this has been hidden away in the Time Team archives since 2007! THANK YOU for presenting it to us now!

[@paular6759]

After I watch this, I think I'll watch some Landscape Artist of the Year. 😊

[@happygrandma5637]

I believe in some of the episodes, maybe around 2017 or 2018 Landscape Artist of the Year did come to at least one of these parks. I really miss seeing Landscape Artis & Portrait Artist on US tv. Now all I am able to see is thru UTube which isn't always the best.

[@richardkaskeski8820]

I always enjoy Tony on these travels,thanks so for a great afternoon!

[@1thomaja]

Lancelot Capability Brown? That's a heck of a name! 😂

[@SECRETORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR]

Parents must of hated him 😂😂

[@AndrewTBP]

Capability was his nickname.

[@1thomaja]

@@AndrewTBP Yes. It was all the rage at that time to wear nicknames. Chastity, Unity, faith, ETC. Some names became used as legal names. ... But to our ears, it's a heck of a name. Lol.

[@1thomaja]

@@SECRETORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR 😆😅

[@larryFritts-cu9xh]

Wonderful episode! Will Phil ever come back to the digs? I miss him on here his humor is irreplaceable!!

[@walkabout16]

In a classic special from 2007, Time Team did embark, To unearth the secrets of a stately garden, a place with a spark. Prior Park, the setting, a historical gem so grand, Let's dive into the episode, let me lend a helping hand. With trowels and shovels, they ventured forth, Uncovering tales hidden in the earth's deep, secret worth. The mansion stood tall, surrounded by lush greenery, Its history shrouded, a fascinating mystery. The Time Team experts, an intrepid crew, Sifted through the soil, revealing what's old and what's new. They sought forgotten stories, tales of times gone by, In the heart of the garden, 'neath the open sky. The landscape architect, Capability Brown by name, Had lent his skill to this stately garden's claim to fame. With a vision so grand, he sculpted the land, Creating a masterpiece, entirely unplanned. From Roman ruins to Georgian design, They unearthed the layers of history, a true goldmine. The gardens of Prior Park, they slowly unveiled, A tale of grandeur and beauty that never paled. So if you seek enlightenment, a journey in rhyme, This Time Team special, a gem from their prime. Secrets of the stately garden, a timeless quest, Revealing the past, where history is at its best.

[@suzannecochrane5924]

An excellent sentiment Brilliantly expressed About Prior Park & Its grand designer Mr Brown The Time Team experts Have excelled yet again To Enlighten & Entertain As only Time Team can.

[@theallseeingmaster]

This gives me a better appreciation of the many estates I visited when I was on a high school senior trip, during the early 70's. It was my first trip over seas.

[@allygee5468]

That was very interesting Thank you Time Team Sur Tony and Stuart for this well done insight

[@markclifton14]

What a great Time Team . I can now see landscaped gardens in a new light.

[@Khelang-62]

Fascinating. I boarded at Prior Park from '75 to '79 and had no idea about the cascade.

[@roswithaprochazka912]

Wonderful episode 💚 like so many others I found Time Team during covid and watched all the old episodes. This one seems to have escaped me though until now. If anyone is looking for a good introductory read about gardens around the world and their symbolisms, I can recommend "Gardens of the Gods" by Christopher McIntosh.

[@cherylkurucz8852]

Excellent episode thank you so much time team! I love it when Tony is the host❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@craigsavarese8631]

I discovered Time Team during Covid. Talk about a bing watch project. So glad to see new material!

[@hellagood67]

Thank you for the upload. As an Australian we didn’t get these shows, at time of airing. We did get the Time Team episodes, but not the specials. Really enjoyed this one.

[@joshschneider9766]

Good to see you still kicking about with all your cunning plans Sir Tony.

[@dionnegonsalves8188]

"We need to see them through 18th-century eyes" 👀 ... well said Mr Robinson 👏🏽 👍🏽 👌🏽

[@l7846]

10 21 23 Bless the Time Team... I found you during the drigs of "covid" and now as war grows in the Holy Land... I lean on you for sanity. Some peace. Some diversion and, of course, more knowledge of my ancestors' homeland. Thank You!!💥

[@JessicaStinson-og1rq]

I am fortunate to live near and work in for quite a while, Balboa Park, in San Diego, home of the San Diego zoo how many museums but it is also very well known for its beautiful gardens

[@alffuergregor]

Wow. Thanks for showing us.

[@morecowbell235]

It's great that Anthony Hopkins could tell us more about the Royal Society and their love of the microscope.

[@Mtlmshr]

It’s fantastic that those with the money could bring a piece of nature from anywhere in the world and have someone create it for them in there backyard (ok, it was a very big backyard!) what gets me,is when it was done and to understand that everything moved at a much slower pace than we do today!

[@pattiwicksteed3731]

O noodles. I wanted to see the tunnels! I come from Bath (now living in New Zealand) and you've shown most of it's best bits in this programme. Thoroughly enjoyed it :)

[@JessicaStinson-og1rq]

I really enjoy your channel and all the time team antics and digs, etc. but I really really enjoyed this particular episode. I have even recommended it to several of my friends. I have a lot of landscape architect friends and I was a landscaper most of my life I think I would actually like to go visit us some of these gardens if it is

[@rachelkoiks]

I love all these UK shows. I feel like I haven’t watched anything American in about 2 years. There’s so much uploaded on YT & there’s so much rich history!

[@RonPike]

TONY IS THE BEST! Cheers from the USA!

[@veldawells2839]

O.M.G. Absolutely amazing! I learned so much. This was remarkable. Enthusiastic delivery, presenting and narration by Sir Tony Robinson encapsulating the romanticism, science, archaeology, history, and landscape designs of history to the present day. Commendable viewing! Thank you.

[@user-yn1vd2fc3f]

Thank you again!

[@dianespears6057]

Thank you.

[@Go-tee71]

Great episode, very interesting!

[@liisasilberblatt4773]

I really enjoyed this episode. I learned so much by this really pleasant, enjoyable way of presenting historical information. Heartfelt greetings from Austria 🇦🇹 💖

[@PaulParkinson]

More of this kind of thing please! And thank you!

[@beckyburrow8576]

❤Time Team❤

[@DementedCaver]

I'm pretty sure that the Disney folks had taken notes from places like this for the theme parks.

[@BenSHammonds]

this is a wonderful and grand episode, truly enjoyed it, time well spent

[@janicehalsey5511]

Fascinating!😊

[@williamrobinson7435]

An excellent film. Thanks Tony and Team! ⭐👍

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

Thanks for that. Much was new to me and the whole thing well presented.

[@richd6362]

Fascinating video. Lots of good information.

[@viking6817]

Thank you Sir Tony , I salute you

[@helenamcginty4920]

The forward planning for gardens like these has to take into account the mature size of the trees planted. Garden designers have to envisage how much a shrub or tree will have spread in, say, 10 years. The views when this landscape was first created have changed dramatically since.

[@scottmcfarland2149]

WELL DONE

[@jocellrobertson2333]

I am looking forward to purchasing the book. Well done

[@bluestarfish95]

I loveTime Team ❤

[@Davlavi]

Very cool.

[@kevdimo6459]

First time I’ve seen this episode, I’m glad i have now.

[@rikspector]

We so need these kind of spaces for the new generations who spend so much time on their phones or computers. Our mental and physical health is tied to these landscapes and Tony and the Time Team have presented this so well. Cheers, Frederick “Rik” Spector

[@Abuamina001]

Kudos.

[@andrewlamb8055]

Just love it ❤⚔️⚔️⚔️

[@jamesmoore9511]

As a first stately garden one might try The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, just a thought.

[@onamuir4985]

🥰🥰🥰 TY!

[@Suz-e-K]

The next time you visit your local park, you should give thanks to the landscape architects who designed it for your enjoyment and whose names you may never know.

[@martineastburn3679]

Sandstone is fused by volcanic Heat. Some is almost sand some almost glass with grit. Depends on the heating. Wow What A show !

[@compfox]

I came across Time Team a few years ago. I whish we would have anything comparable here in Germany.

[@mrpopo8298]

Die Deutsche haben keine Zeit Team? Ach du lieber!

[@Pesmog]

Germany has so much archeology of its own, it could easily justify an equivalent TV series. 👍

[@phranerphamily]

Can't wait!

[@SECRETORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR]

For what??

[@phranerphamily]

@@SECRETORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR for the video to drop. It was still 8 hours away when I posted the comment. Sorry if it was vague I didn't mean it to be.

[@TheBlondeSunset]

Chapman reminds me of Robin-ebullient and rich in language😊

[@W4iteFlame]

Interesting how the idea of the place have lots in common with the japanese gardens

[@rosee941]

Wow.. learned a whole heap from this! I've never seen an English garden... I live here in the colonies.. but they are always in shows, films and stories, so they seem familiar... but there is so much more to them than that surface level beauty... Thanks for enlightening me! How great would it be to have a cascade in your front garden!!

[@sandymcgivern-butler3399]

Thanks

[@TimeTeamOfficial]

Thank you

[@adriennenash8]

Wow! you could have done several programmes on this subject.

[@TheNosnets]

when my time machine arrives I'm going back in time to become a roman black market garden dealer.

[@fraeris1]

I'm ready 👍

[@cawfeedawg]

Yay!!

[@PaddyWV]

I shall pull up a pint tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, of course) and settle into this. Cheers.

[@joncarter8372]

Not the usual dig, but very interesting. Enjoyed the background music. Would like to know what the pieces were. Thank you

[@Whipkick2]

It would be interesting to look at the life of the agriculutral naavies. The 10's of men employed to dig and move the carts of material, to construct the natural landscape.

[@kevinjohnbetts]

When you said 'navy' I had visions of ships sailing down canals bearing turnips, cabbages, and the like. But then I realised to meant 'Navvies'. If I remember correctly the team did do an episode looking at the life of a railway navvy, uncovering an old, possibly temporary, cottage and lamenting the appalling conditions the man's family lived in.

[@danellis-jones1591]

If you love this, look up Kevin McCloud's Grand Tour. Equally as fascinating

[@PMabq]

Country matters is a very wicked pun.

[@kateflies3930]

It sounds like the 18th Century hothouse of London was the AI of it's day...all great minds in all scientific fields communicating with one another, sharing information and expanding the world's knowledge expotentially..

[@bosse641]

Love the English landscape. Would love to live in it.

[@bobcricket4873]

Er.... Dr Maria Cristina Paoluzzi needs her own series with immediate effect!!!

[@frederickvondinkerberg7721]

She is gorgeous and interesting

[@chrishankin9119]

Agreed - she is so articulate in a language not her native one, and she also happens to be gorgeous. ;-)

[@TheStevewhelan]

21:55 the word Shelanagig leaps to mind

[@Shaden0040]

hashtag in balloon Ed I think I found one of the first aquascapers sir I think you'll be impressed and surprised. just think what they can do today with your aqua blocks and pumps.

[@kateflies3930]

TimeStamp 34:46 ... looks like some barley balls wouldn't go amiss to clear up the goldfish pond...

[@Daytona2]

♥ garden archaeology (and by chance I've stumbled upon excavator operator Ian Barclay's tricks - Picking up a grape and dropping it in Paul Blinkhorn's mouth - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX7ZZZd9q6qcatU Peeling a banana held by Tim Taylor - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKabq6Z6at14erc I don't recall seeing these at the time 🤔

[@joshschneider9766]

Regarding the half dismembered sculpture of walpole at Stowe, look up walpole. Quite possibly the least loved PM your nation has ever had. It would seem the owner of Stowe was among those who cordially despised him.

[@davidd6171]

When did Tony's mom pass? Sorry to hear about your loss mate!

[@bigsarge2085]

✌

[@rossmacintosh5652]

Déjà vu!

[@garyproffitt5941]

Hi Baldrick and I'm going to invest a grade Turnip to make it pay and pure comedy - DVD🤣👍

[@chris_anon88]

Lets gooo

[@JessicaStinson-og1rq]

In the Bible, Moses strikes a rock with a stick or rod, and water pours forth from it. That could be why Moses was at the top of where the water poured out and over the cascade.

[@juliaforsyth8332]

The 10th Viscount Cobham was Governor-General of New Zealand. A much Respected man and expert sportsman.

[@katelynherring2117]

"they weren't stealing anything, they were just collecting." Mmmmhmmmmm. 👀👀

[@Happyheretic2308]

They paid for the items. Lord Elgin paid the Greeks for the Marbles or what was left of them, given the Ottoman Turks were using them as target practice. Bought, not ‘stolen’.

[@user-ev1ty9pm8p]

Sounds as if Alexander Pope would have been in favour of some apsects of rewilding... as for the cascade, I want one !!

[@cherylkurucz8852]

👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤

[@maf6856]

Great show (To many ADS )