Britain Unlimited covers 250 Great British people and what made them famous

Who was Lancelot "Capability" Brown? Landscape Gardener and designer. Date and Place of Birth: 1715, Kirkharle, Northumberland, England. Christened Lancelot. The nickname "Capability" comes form his habit of telling all his clients that "This place has a lot of capabilities". Family Background: Son of William Browne from Yeoman stock. Education: No formal education. Chronology: Began work as a gardener's boy in Northumberland. 1742: Obtained a post at Stowe, one of the most influential gardens of the day. He was responsible for showing wealthy visitors around the garden and got to know many of the nobility. He worked under William Kent and then set up his own business after Kent's death. By 1753: He was known as the leading improver of grounds in England. He received his nickname due to his often-used phrase when looking at a garden. "This place has a lot of capabilities". He created a lake at Wakefield Lodge for the Duke of Grafton. He then went to Blenheim Palace to design the lakes besides Sir John Vanburgh's bridge. At this time he also became a competent classical architect. 1751- 57: Worked on designs for Petworth House, West Sussex. Bought the Lordship of the Manor of fenstanton and Hilton in Cambridgeshire. Marriage: To Bridget Wayet on 22nd November 1744, at St. Mary's Church, Hove, Sussex.. Places of Interest: AVON: Prior Park, Bath OXFORDSHIRE: Blenheim Palace WARWICKSHIRE: Charlecote Park Date and Place of Death: 6th February 1783, London, England. Age at Death: 68. Site of Grave: Buried next to his wife in the parish churchyard at Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire. There is also a memorial to him on the wall of the chancel inside the church.