Repton (Humphry) Papers, 1746-1818

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Title:
Humphry Repton papers
Dates:
1746-1818
Creators:
Repton, Humphry, 1752-1818
Abstract:
A collection of family and professional material relating to the English landscape gardener, architect, and author Humphry Repton.
Extent:
4.6 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Humphry Repton papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of approximately 250 items from 1746 to 1818, it consists of letters, documents, and ephemera which either directly or indirectly involve Humphry Repton. The papers mainly concern family, personal and legal matters rather than deal primarily with Repton's professional career as a landscape gardener. The collection includes legal correspondence of one of Repton's sons, William Repton, and family documents related to Dorothy Repton Adey, such as wills, marriage, and home settlements. There is also a family pedigree for the Paston family, a family with noble ties dating back to the 16th century, but the document lacks any distinguishing purpose in relation to the Reptons.

Biographical / historical:

Humphry Repton (1752-1818) was one of England's leading landscape gardeners. Repton was born in Bury St. Edmonds, England, and was originally meant to become a merchant in the textile trade but he was not a success. He married Mary Clarke in 1773 and, together, they had four children. After the death of his parents in 1778, Repton moved the family to a small country estate at Sustead, Norfolk, to be near his sister Dorothy (Repton) Adey and her husband John Adey, a solicitor. While living in Norfolk, Repton was encouraged to study botany and gardening by a childhood friend, but with his capital dwindling, he moved to a cottage near Romford in Essex. At this time, Repton decided to combine his talented sketching skills with his limited horticulture knowledge and begin a career as a professional landscape gardener, a term he coined himself. To help clients visualize his designs, Repton produced 'Red Books' (so called for their binding) with explanatory text and watercolors with a system of overlays to show 'before' and 'after' views. Repton went on to become the most celebrated landscape garden designer of the eighteenth century.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Sotheby's, through the agency of Maggs Bros., March 1974.
Processing information:

Processed by Sarah Green and Diana Pam, in August 2008. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the electronic finding aid derived from the earlier finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-10-22 14:32:25 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Humphry Repton papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website