There by Design? Some Reflections on Medieval Elite Landscapes

This paper reviews the evidence for sophisticated designed landscapes in medieval England. It argues that the claims made for such landscapes have been exaggerated, and suggests that while medieval elites clearly altered the surroundings of their residences on a grand scale, such activity was generally concerned with the display of symbols of lordly status, usually involving the control of superior resources of production. There is little evidence for the complex approaches, carefully composed views, contrived sylvan settings or abstract aesthetic schemes suggested by many archae ologists, and 'designed landscape' is a term best reserved for post-medieval contexts.