FOLLIES & PLEASURE PAVILIONS - Tapa dura

Eye-catchers and gazebos, belvederes, temples and pagodas, dairies, tree-houses and bath houses - the landscape in Britain was enhanced and embellished during the 18th and 19th centuries by the myriad garden buildings that were designed to complement the main houses set within country estates. Howevever varied their shapes, materials or purposes, all of these follies and pleasure pavilions reveal elements of fantasy and wish-fulfilment that surprise and delight as much today as when they first emerged in the architect's sketches. The treasures in this book include the eccentricities of Biddulph Grange Garden in England, the Pineapple of Dunmore Park in Scotland and the Mussenden Temple in Northern Ireland, perched dramatically on a rocky precipice overlooking the Atlantic. The magnificent photographs are by George Mott. He and Sally Sample Aall describe not only the historical period, the location and the form of each unique structure, but also include amusing anecdotes about the often eccentric owners, designers, architects or visitors, who spent so many hours building and enjoying their 'follies'. George Mott's last photographic book was "The Land of Ireland" and Gervase Jackson-Stops also wrote "The Country House Garden: A Grand Tour".