We have to begin the story somewhere, and Radway seems to make sense as the starting-point. Sanderson Miller was born here at Radway
Grange in 1716, son of a businessman from Banbury who'd prospered enough to buy this pleasant little estate and to provide his son with
sufficient funds to spend the rest of his life enjoying himself as a jobbing gentleman-architect. Sanderson became a prodigious folly-builder and
-designer for Britain's gentry and aristocracy, knocking up very pleasing ruins and towers across the country.
But Radway had history, real history. There were Gothic follies before Miller's; Alexander Pope's grotto-castle at Twickenham dated to 1718. But
at Radway, for the first time, there was the crucial element of the true Gothic Garden, an interaction between imagination and landscape. For the
slopes above the Grange looked out across a grand prospect of Midland countryside including the site of the Battle of Edgehill. What a set of
associations, what a spur to reflection and contemplation about matters ranging from the transience of human ambition to the liberties of the
trueborn Englishman.
Grange in 1716, son of a businessman from Banbury who'd prospered enough to buy this pleasant little estate and to provide his son with
sufficient funds to spend the rest of his life enjoying himself as a jobbing gentleman-architect. Sanderson became a prodigious folly-builder and
-designer for Britain's gentry and aristocracy, knocking up very pleasing ruins and towers across the country.
But Radway had history, real history. There were Gothic follies before Miller's; Alexander Pope's grotto-castle at Twickenham dated to 1718. But
at Radway, for the first time, there was the crucial element of the true Gothic Garden, an interaction between imagination and landscape. For the
slopes above the Grange looked out across a grand prospect of Midland countryside including the site of the Battle of Edgehill. What a set of
associations, what a spur to reflection and contemplation about matters ranging from the transience of human ambition to the liberties of the
trueborn Englishman.
| First, Miller set about Gothicising the Grange itself, adding pinnacles and spiky bits, and perhaps a grotto of his own which remains in the grounds - private and currently inaccessible. A Picturesque cottage appeared on the hilltop, and other buildings around Radway village have Gothick touches too - not least a cottage which goes by the name of the Hermitage. |
Then, to crown Edgehill, Miller built
the first sham castle, now the Castle
Inn. As well as the real battle down in
the plain, Radway now possessed a
symbol of imaginary bloodshed,
dominating and binding together the
landscape as a composition. Here you
can see the first sparks of the Gothic
imagination's creative engagement with
the melancholy potential of the British
countryside, rather than just dumping a
folly here and there bearing no relation
to the topography around it. Yes, it is
only a beginning, but a beginning it is,
and in the form of the Castle itself, a
very handsome one.
the first sham castle, now the Castle
Inn. As well as the real battle down in
the plain, Radway now possessed a
symbol of imaginary bloodshed,
dominating and binding together the
landscape as a composition. Here you
can see the first sparks of the Gothic
imagination's creative engagement with
the melancholy potential of the British
countryside, rather than just dumping a
folly here and there bearing no relation
to the topography around it. Yes, it is
only a beginning, but a beginning it is,
and in the form of the Castle itself, a
very handsome one.
There are two other elements that complete the
ensemble at Radway, both lying within the
lozenge of land which is the Grange estate and
defined by the footpaths that run around it. The
obelisk on the hillside is nothing to do with the
imagination of Sanderson Miller, and
commemorates the Battle of Waterloo. The
stone staircase up the hill, though, known as
Jacob's Ladder - a common name for this type
of feature in 18th-century gardens - is of
unknown origin. Strange.
ensemble at Radway, both lying within the
lozenge of land which is the Grange estate and
defined by the footpaths that run around it. The
obelisk on the hillside is nothing to do with the
imagination of Sanderson Miller, and
commemorates the Battle of Waterloo. The
stone staircase up the hill, though, known as
Jacob's Ladder - a common name for this type
of feature in 18th-century gardens - is of
unknown origin. Strange.
