William Emes

William Emes was a landscape designer and gardener active from the mid-18th to the early-19th century. A few minor buildings are also known to be by him.

From 1756 Emes was the head gardener at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire. After leaving his post in 1760, he set up a practice as a landscape designer. He was noted particularly for his laying out of water and practised largely in the English Midlands and in Wales. His work is similar in style to that of Capability Brown. Features often included serpentine lakes and rides. He also introduced flower gardens adjacent to the house. He frequently worked in association with James or Samuel Wyatt.

He was responsible for landscaping Cufnells Park at Lyndhurst. This property had been acquired by Sir George Rose in 1786 and was a copyhold of Lyndhurst Manor. Sir George was Treasurer of the Navy and was visited by George III at Cufnells in 1789 and other times. Sir George had the house altered in 1794 by the neo-classical architect John Soane. He presumably had the gardens and park changed around the same time, as Emes moved to Hampshire in 1789 and produced plans for nearby Brockenhurst Park with John Webb in 1793, though little was actually done here due to the death of John Morant in 1794.

William Emes later moved to London, where he died in March 1803.

Bibliography:

Brayley, E.W. & Britton, J. (c.1805) A Topographical and Historical Description of the County of Hants ... p.179.