Humphry Repton Papers mssHM 40834-40959
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
August 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Humphry Repton papers
Creator:
Repton, Humphry,
1752-1818
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 40834-40959
Physical Description:
4.6 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1746-1818
Abstract: A collection of family and professional
material relating to the English landscape gardener, architect, and author Humphry
Repton.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Sotheby's, through the agency of Maggs Bros., March 1974.
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Landscape gardening -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Landscape gardening -- History
Royal Pavilion (Brighton,
England)
Great Britain -- History -- 18th century
Great Britain -- History -- 19th century
Ephemera -- Great Britain
Family papers -- Great Britain
Legal documents -- Great Britain
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain
Adey, Dorothy Repton
Repton, George
Stanley
Repton, William
Box 1
Humphry Repton HM 40834-40883
1806-1818
Box 2
Dorothy Repton Adey-John Adey Repton HM 40884-40931
1805-1815
Box 3
Mary Repton-John Wodehouse; Ephemera HM 40932-40955
1805-1816
Box 4
Adey deeds HM 40956-40959
1746-1770
