Bowood House

Bowood House is a country estate in the county of Wiltshire in the United Kingdom, between Calne and Chippenham, surrounded by a large park in the style of the reign of King George II

Since 1754, the country seat of the family Petty - FitzMaurice, the head of the family of the Marquess of Lansdowne is heard. Among the most important members of the family was William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, the British Prime Minister in 1782 /83.

The owners were known not only as an influential politician, but also as a generous patron of art and science: Joseph Priestley worked for many years as a private tutor in the estate and isolated in 1774 in Bowood House the first time the element oxygen. The researcher January Ingenhousz died 1799 in Bowood Park.

Park and gardens were designed in the 1760s by Capability Brown. They are one of the most characteristic examples of the English style of the parks in the late Rococo period. The park is more than 8 km ².

The main house was torn down in 1955 for economic reasons, after it had stood empty for a long time. The existing buildings are still an impressive size. Bowood House is open for tours.